Chipped or Broken Bonding: Repair and Replacement
For anyone whose composite bonding has chipped, cracked or come off: why it happens, how urgent it is, what to do and whether it can be repaired. In short, chipped composite can often be repaired, direct bonding that has come off usually has to be replaced, and a tooth badly broken by a knock needs urgent advice from your dental practice or 111.
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Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, dentist · GDC 301711
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, a General Dental Practitioner and the principal dentist at Deepcar Dental Care, reviewed this page. He holds BDS, BSc (Hons), MSc (Leeds), a PG Dip in Implant Dentistry and a PG Cert in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry.
Why does composite bonding chip or break?
Composite bonding can chip or break under biting forces over time, from grinding, or from a knock to the tooth.
A 2015 systematic review of 17 studies of front-tooth composite found fracture of the tooth or restoration was the most common reason for failure. Failures of colour, shape and surface stain were more frequent where composite was placed for aesthetic reasons.
Under FDI World Dental Federation criteria, a chip is a cohesive fracture within the composite that in most cases can be polished or repaired, while debonding means adhesively bonded composite comes loose or is lost.
How urgent is chipped or broken bonding?
How urgent chipped bonding is depends on whether only the composite is damaged or the tooth itself is badly broken.
| What has happened | What to do |
|---|---|
| A small chip or rough edge in the composite | The NHS says a chipped tooth is usually not serious, and that a tooth that is just chipped needs a non-emergency dental appointment. |
| A sharp edge, a crack, or the bonding has come off | Book a dental appointment to have it checked. |
| The tooth is sensitive or aching | NHS guidance says to see a dentist if toothache lasts more than 2 days, does not go away with painkillers, or comes with a high temperature, pain when you bite, red gums, a bad taste or a swollen cheek or jaw. If you do not have a dentist or cannot get an emergency appointment, call 111 or visit 111 online. Go to A&E or call 999 if the area around your eye or neck is swollen, or swelling in your mouth or neck makes it hard to breathe, swallow or speak. |
| The tooth itself is badly broken or knocked out, for example after a knock | Urgent: call your dental practice or get advice from 111. NHS guidance says a knocked-out or badly broken adult tooth needs treating as soon as possible, within 30 minutes to 1 hour if possible. |
What should you do if your bonding chips or comes off?
If your bonding chips or comes off, check the tooth, keep any piece of tooth, note what happened and book a dental appointment.
- Check the tooth. If it is badly broken or knocked out, call your dental practice or get advice from 111; for an adult tooth, NHS guidance is treatment as soon as possible, within 30 minutes to 1 hour if possible. Emergency dental care has its own page.
- Keep any piece of tooth in milk or saliva and take it to a dentist. For a whole knocked-out adult tooth, NHS guidance is to hold it by the crown, not the root; if dirty, rinse it gently in milk, saline or saliva; try to put it back and, if it goes in easily, bite gently on a clean cloth; if not, keep it in milk or saliva; and see a dentist as soon as possible.
- Note what happened, such as biting, grinding or a knock: FDI policy says the cause of a failure should be identified before repair or replacement.
- Book a dental appointment to have it checked.
Can chipped bonding be repaired, or does it need replacing?
Chipped composite can often be repaired, while direct bonding that has come off typically has to be replaced. The FDI criteria say localised defects with clinical access, such as chipping, can typically be repaired; with extended or multiple fractures, repair might not be reasonable and replacement is more appropriate.
FDI defines a repair as adding new composite after minor preparation, or after roughening or conditioning the remaining surfaces, while keeping enough of the existing restoration. The page on how composite bonds to enamel explains etching and adhesion.
Evidence suggests a suitable repair, done with proper protocols, can give results comparable to a replacement, though the evidence is limited. A 2026 umbrella review of seven systematic reviews found no significant difference in failure rates between repaired and replaced restorations, but rated the certainty of that evidence low. In a retrospective study of composite in front and back teeth, 616 repaired restorations lasted as long as 264 replacements, but fewer than half in either group went ten years without further treatment.
What does repairing composite bonding cost?
The practice's current fee list has no line for repairing composite bonding.
Questions about this treatment? Book online or call the practice.
How can you help stop bonding chipping again?
If you grind your teeth, the NHS says a dentist may recommend a night-worn mouth guard or splint to protect your teeth from damage.
At Deepcar Dental Care, a night guard is required for patients with direct composite bonding who grind, and it is charged separately. The page on composite bonding and grinding explains more.
The page on cleaning composite bonding covers day-to-day care.
When does Deepcar Dental Care review direct composite bonding?
At Deepcar Dental Care, a review appointment follows 2 weeks after direct composite bonding treatment.
For direct composite bonding, the practice recommends a professional re-polish every 6 months.
What aftercare cover comes with direct composite bonding at Deepcar Dental Care?
Direct composite bonding at Deepcar Dental Care comes with 12-month aftercare cover, covering repairs. Accidental trauma and infection are excluded.
When should you speak to your dentist about your bonding?
Speak to your dentist if your bonding chips, cracks, feels sharp or comes off. NHS guidance says not to go to a GP, who cannot give dental treatment.
A chipped natural tooth needs a dentist; see the chipped front tooth and chipped tooth bonding pages.
Where are other composite bonding aftercare topics covered?
Other composite bonding aftercare topics are among the options in this section.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for bonding to chip after a week?
Early chips do happen; have one checked by your dentist. In a seven-year study of 163 front-tooth composite build-ups, chipping or fracture was more frequent in the first year after placement. A 2017 research review notes that short-term fractures are usually small, and might point to technical issues in placing or handling the material.
Can bonding that has fallen off be stuck back on?
Usually not, for direct bonding. Under the FDI criteria, a direct restoration that is loose or lost typically has to be replaced, while a lost indirect restoration made in a laboratory, if it is still sound, can be recemented. Your dentist examines the tooth and what is left before deciding which applies.
Will composite bonding need replacing eventually?
Eventually, yes: a 2017 research review says no restoration should be expected to last forever. The practice gives around five years as a realistic lifespan for direct composite bonding, depending on you, your oral hygiene and your habits. The page on how long composite bonding lasts explains more.
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Deepcar Dental Care is at 334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield, S36 2RH, open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday, with free parking directly outside. Patient feedback is on the patient reviews page.
334 Manchester Road
Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RH
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