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Key takeaways:
- Broken teeth can often be fixed with dental bonding, veneers, or crowns.
- Bonding is the least expensive option, at $300-$600 per tooth, but is not appropriate for every case.
- A dental veneer ($900+) or a crown ($1000+) may be needed to successfully repair the tooth.
- If you’re uninsured or under-insured, a dental savings plan can help reduce costs.
Teeth are tough, but they are not indestructible. More than five million teeth are knocked out every year, according to the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) and the most common cause is a sports injury. Untreated cavities and gum disease can also weaken teeth, leading to dental fractures.
You can greatly lower your odds of experiencing a dental disaster by seeing your dentist regularly and wearing a good mouthguard when playing sports. But if your tooth is already broken, what you really want to know is how it can be fixed, what it will cost, and what you can do if you don’t have dental insurance and/or enough cash on hand to see a dentist.
Continue reading to learn more about broken tooth repair costs and treatment options.
How to Handle a Broken Tooth
First off, if you were in an accident or suffered a fall or injury forceful enough to break or knock out a permanent tooth, head to urgent care, the nearest emergency room or your doctor ASAP.
Otherwise, you need to see your dentist or an endodontist as soon as possible (within 12 hours at the latest, but the sooner the better). Call and make an appointment. Before you go, the AAE recommends that:
- If the tooth came out of your mouth, pick it up by the crown (the chewing surface) NOT the root.
- If it’s dirty, gently rinse the tooth with water. Do not scrub it, do not dry it off, don’t wrap it up in anything.
- If it’s an adult (permanent) tooth, try to reposition it in the socket immediately, if possible. Hold it in place with your finger.
- Can’t replace it? Then put it in a container filled with milk, or in your mouth next to your cheek.
The chances of saving your tooth depend on where the break occurred, how severe it is, and the overall condition of the tooth’s pulp (nerve tissue) and the surrounding area in the jaw. Treatment may include bonding, veneers, root canal and crown or extraction, depending on the circumstances—but timely care can help save your tooth, or at least limit the damage.
Your dentist will also check to see if there are additional injuries to the neighboring teeth that need to be treated.
Treatments for a Broken Tooth
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding involves layering on a durable, tooth-colored material to restore the tooth’s shape. This relatively simple procedure can be completed in one dental appointment. Because the bonding material has the same shade and transparency as natural teeth, it creates a seamless repair.
However, it’s possible the bonding material may wear away over time and eventually need to be replaced. The average cost of dental bonding ranges from $300 to $600 per tooth.
Dental Veneers
Minor chips can also be repaired with veneers, which cover the entire front surface of the tooth instead of just the chipped area. Veneers are customized to fit your specific needs and consist of a thin shell of tooth-colored material – either porcelain or composite.
You can expect to pay between $900 and $2,000 per tooth for porcelain veneers. Composite veneers cost approximately $350 to $1500 per tooth.
Dental Crowns
If your tooth cannot be restored by bonding or veneers, you may need a dental crown. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that restores a decayed, broken, weak or worn-down tooth. This will likely take two visits, as your dentist needs to shape the remaining tooth structure to receive a crown and then have the permanent restoration fabricated in a dental laboratory.
Typically, the dentist will send you home with a temporary restoration and call you back when the permanent restoration is ready to be placed on your tooth. A crown averages between $1,000 and $1,500 per tooth.
Affordable Dental Care for Broken Teeth
Apart from sports injuries and accidents, issues that can lead to weakened teeth include aging, grinding your teeth, weakened enamel due to acid erosion or excessive brushing, and conditions like tooth demineralization or enamel hypoplasia (thin enamel). A bad bite can also create abnormal pressure on teeth that can lead to breaks.
It’s important to get a broken tooth fixed as soon as possible, both to restore your confidence and reduce the cost of dental bills down the road. A break can expose the tooth to decay and gums to infection. Your broken tooth may have sharp edges that can damage your tongue and the soft tissues inside your mouth.
If it’s a back tooth (molar) you may be tempted to put off seeing the dentist, but delaying can result in increasing pain, infections that can spread, and even tooth loss.
Unfortunately, many of the treatments used to repair a broken tooth may exceed your dental insurance’s annual spending limit which is typically $1000-$1500. And whether you have insurance or not, despite your best intentions, you may not have money put aside for a dental emergency fund. But you can reduce the cost of dental care with a dental savings plan.
Dental savings plans, a trusted alternative to traditional dental insurance, have no annual limits and are accepted by thousands of dentists nationwide. Plan members report saving an average of 50%* on their dental care.
Find the Perfect Plan at DentalPlans.com
As you can see, broken tooth repair costs vary. Regardless of what some plans offer, no broken tooth is worth ignoring. Remember, your oral health is just as important as the rest of your physical health. Preserving your teeth isn’t just about improving your smile, it’s about preserving the quality of your life.
Discover your best dental plan option at DentalPlans.com. With over 20 years of experience, we’re committed to helping people find the best dental savings solution for them, so they can afford the treatment they deserve. We make it easy to find the plan that fits your specific needs.
Call us at 1-833-735-0399 to find the best dental plan for you. Check out our FAQ section for more information on questions regarding dental damage and treatment options.
