Broken Tooth Repair

Types of Tooth Breaks

Chipped Enamel

A small piece of enamel has broken off. Usually painless. Repaired with bonding or reshaping in one visit.

Fractured Cusp

A larger piece has broken off, often around an old filling. Mild sensitivity to hot, cold, or pressure. Repaired with a filling or crown, depending on size.

Cracked Tooth

A vertical crack that has not yet fully separated. Pain when biting and releasing. Treated with a crown to prevent the crack from spreading; root canal if the crack has reached the nerve.

Split Tooth

The crack has fully split the tooth into segments. Often one segment can be saved with a root canal and crown. Extraction may be needed if both segments are compromised.

Vertical Root Fracture

A crack that starts at the root. Usually diagnosed with Cone Beam CT. Often requires extraction.

Broken Tooth at Gum Line

Severe break with little tooth above the gum. Maybe save with a root canal, post, core buildup and crown if enough root remains; otherwise extraction.

Treatment Options and Pricing

• Dental Bonding for minor chips: usually one visit.
• Composite Filling ($160-$225): for small fractures with good remaining tooth structure.
• Dental Crown ($500): for larger breaks or cracks that threaten the remaining tooth.
• Root Canal + Crown ($950 total): when the break has reached the nerve.
• Extraction ($125-$200): only when the tooth cannot be saved.

Why Acting Fast Matters

A tooth broken for days is often a tooth that cannot be saved. Bacteria invade exposed dentin and pulp, cracks spread under normal chewing forces, and infection can take hold. Same-day or next-day treatment preserves more of your natural tooth and is almost always cheaper than waiting.