Emergencies
Broke a tooth on Korean food? What to do next
Chewy rice cakes, crab shells, bones and hard snacks can crack teeth and pull out fillings. What to do in the first hour, and what a dentist in Seoul can fix the same day.
By Dr. Kang Jun-guMedically reviewed by Dr. Kang Jun-guPublished Updated 4 min read
Quick answer
If you chip a tooth or lose a filling while eating in Korea, rinse with warm water, keep any broken pieces and avoid chewing on that side. Contact a dentist the same day. Small chips can often be bonded in one visit, and a larger break may be fixed with a same-day ceramic restoration. If you were hit in an accident, have heavy bleeding or facial swelling, call 119.
Foods that most often cause trouble
- Sticky rice cakes (tteok) and chewy sweets, which can pull out fillings and crowns
- Crab and shellfish shells in dishes like ganjang-gejang and haemul-tang
- Bones in galbi, jokbal and fried chicken
- Hard snacks, nuts and ice
What to do in the first hour
- Rinse gently with warm water and check the area with your tongue, not your finger
- Keep any piece of tooth or the crown in a clean container
- Take a painkiller you normally use if you need one
- Avoid very hot, cold or sugary food and chew on the other side
- Message a dentist with a photo so they can tell you how urgent it is
What can be fixed the same day
A small chip at the edge of a tooth can usually be repaired with tooth-coloured bonding in one visit, and a lost filling can be replaced the same day. If a larger part has broken, an X-ray shows whether the nerve is involved. When it isn't, a ceramic inlay or crown can often be designed and made in the clinic in a single appointment.
When it's more than a dental problem
Go to an emergency room or call 119 if you were hit in the face, your jaw won't close properly, bleeding doesn't stop after 15 minutes of pressure, or swelling is spreading.
Questions people also ask
Is a chipped tooth an emergency?
A small chip with no pain isn't urgent, but have it checked within a few days because sharp edges can cut your tongue and cracks can spread. A break with pain or bleeding should be seen the same day.
Can I glue a crown back on myself?
No. Household glue can damage the tooth and make the crown harder to refit. Keep it safe and bring it to the dentist.
How long does a same-day repair take?
Bonding a small chip usually takes under an hour. A same-day ceramic inlay or crown takes longer, but is still finished in one appointment.
Need this looked at in Seoul?
Check-ups, scaling and whitening, with fees shown before we start.
Dr. Kang is a board-certified Integrated Dentistry specialist trained at Yonsei, Harvard and Columbia. He treats every patient at the Gongdeok clinic himself.
About Dr. KangHow we write these guides: each guide is written from questions our patients ask, reviewed by Dr. Kang, and updated when guidance changes. It is general information, not a diagnosis. For advice about your own teeth, please book a check-up.
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