What should you do right away when a front tooth chips?
When a front tooth chips, first find the piece and keep it from drying out, then decide when to go to the dentist based on your symptoms. If the piece is large and fits well, it can be bonded back on, with the advantage of keeping the tooth's original color.
- Find the broken piece and put it in milk, saline, or water
- If it's bleeding, press with clean gauze for 5–10 minutes
- If your lip is swollen or painful, cool it with a cold wet towel
- Be careful not to cut your tongue or lips on the sharp edge
Go to the dentist the same day if the tooth is loose or has been pushed in, if you see a red dot or blood on the broken surface (nerve exposure), or if the pain is severe. If you also hit your head and feel dizzy or vomit, go to the emergency room first. If it's a small chip and doesn't hurt, it's fine to be seen within a few days.
How does treatment differ depending on how badly the tooth is broken?
For a tooth fracture (a tooth that has chipped or broken), treatment depends on how far the break goes.
| Extent of the break | Visible symptoms | Common treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Just the enamel, slightly | Rough edge, no pain | Smoothing or composite resin |
| Into the dentin | Yellow inner layer visible, sensitive to cold | Composite resin, reattaching the piece, or a porcelain veneer if large |
| Into the nerve | Red dot or blood, pain | Nerve treatment, or root canal treatment followed by a crown |
| Below the gum or into the root | Looseness, pain when chewing | Assess whether it can be saved; if not, extraction followed by an implant |
Even if it looks small from the outside, a crack can extend toward the root, so I check with an X-ray. If it's broken down to the root and hard to save, a front tooth implant is considered.
Can a chipped front tooth be fixed with composite resin?
Front tooth composite resin is the first option considered for small chips. It involves almost no grinding, is finished the same day, and costs the least. At Wonjin Dental, front tooth resin is ₩100,000–₩300,000 depending on the area.
It has drawbacks too. Resin is softer than ceramic and stains easily, so after a few years it often discolors or chips again at the edges and needs touching up. If a large part of the edge of the front tooth broke, or you grind your teeth, the resin may come off often. Details are on front tooth resin.
When are porcelain veneers and crowns used?
Porcelain veneers are used when the broken area is large, the resin keeps chipping, or you want to change the color and shape at the same time. Their advantage is that they cover the front surface of the tooth and preserve much of the remaining tooth. A crown wraps and protects the whole tooth when nearly half of it has broken off, it's had root canal treatment, or cracks run in several directions. It's strong but requires grinding more of the tooth.
| Treatment | Suitable cases | Wonjin Dental price |
|---|---|---|
| Front tooth resin | Small chips | ₩100,000–₩300,000 (by area) |
| Brinate (no-prep veneer) | Large chips, changing color and shape together | ₩330,000–₩990,000 per tooth |
| Front tooth zirconia crown | Badly broken teeth, teeth with root canal treatment | ₩700,000 |
| Front tooth ceramic crown | Badly broken teeth, teeth with root canal treatment | ₩800,000 |
Prices are as of September 2026; Brinate prices include VAT (cosmetic treatment). Root canal treatment is covered by Korean National Health Insurance. All prices can be found on the full fee list.
How we do it at Wonjin Dental
Wonjin Dental is a clinic focused on front-tooth treatment. When I see a chipped front tooth, I check whether the nerve is okay before looking at the shape. A tooth that was hit can darken weeks or months later as the nerve dies, so I keep checking on it even after treatment is finished.
If the broken area is small and the tooth isn't pushed forward, I sometimes restore the shape with Brinate, which is placed without grinding. If it's badly broken, I recommend a front tooth crown. Wonjin Dental is right by Gangnam Station Exit 1.
Frequently asked questions
My front tooth chipped a little. Can I just leave it?
If it's very small and not sensitive, just smoothing the sharp edge is fine. However, there may be a crack you can't see, so it's good to have it checked once. If the tooth is cracked, see What to do when a front tooth is cracked.
What if my front tooth changes color after an injury?
If a tooth that was hit darkens to gray or brown, it may be a sign that the nerve has been damaged. I check whether root canal treatment is needed, and if it's still dark after treatment, it's sometimes lightened with non-vital whitening done from the inside.
Is treatment for a chipped front tooth covered by insurance?
Root canal treatment and extraction are covered by Korean National Health Insurance. Composite resin, porcelain veneers, and crowns are mostly not covered by insurance. If you were injured in an accident, you may be compensated under the terms of your own insurance policy, so check with your insurer first about the documents you need.
Is treatment harder if I don't have the broken piece?
Even without the piece, the shape can be rebuilt with composite resin or a porcelain veneer. The piece is just a good option to have, and even if it's bonded back on, it can come off again, so it's sometimes replaced with resin later.
