Broken Tooth Repair Cost in 2026
Repairing a broken tooth costs $100-$600 for bonding, $150-$500 for a filling, $800-$3,500 for a crown, and $1,500-$6,000 for a root canal plus crown in the U.S. in 2026. The price depends entirely on how deep the break goes — and insurance usually covers most of it as restorative care.
Broken tooth repair cost by option (2026)
The single biggest driver of price is how deep the break goes — a surface chip or craze-line crack and a fractured cusp into the nerve are different orders of magnitude. The ranges below are compiled from ADA fee data, FAIR Health and published 2024-2026 cost data, deliberately free of any single clinic's framing (financing brands tend to understate, big-metro practices overstate).
Per tooth, U.S. national ranges. Source: Real Dental Costs analysis of ADA, FAIR Health and 2024-2026 published fee data.
First, decide if it's an emergency
Before looking at price, look at the tooth in a mirror. The color you see at the break tells you how urgent it is:
- White edge only (enamel chip): rough but painless, or mildly sensitive. Not urgent — bonding or smoothing within a week or two is fine.
- Yellow center (dentin exposed): sensitive to cold air and water. Medium urgency — see a dentist within a few days before bacteria reach deeper.
- Pink or red dot, throbbing, swelling or bleeding (pulp exposed): the nerve is exposed. This is an emergency — go the same day. Untreated pulp exposure leads to infection and abscess, and turns a cheap repair into a root canal.
Teeth have no blood supply and cannot heal themselves, so a cracked, chipped, or broken tooth never repairs on its own — the only question is how deep the fracture has gone and how fast you act.
Cracked vs Chipped vs Broken: What Each Type Costs to Fix
Whether your dentist calls it a chipped, cracked, or fractured tooth, the repair cost depends entirely on how deep the damage goes. Dentists classify tooth injuries into five distinct fracture types, each with its own treatment path and price range (Humana Jun 2026; rankmydentist 2025):
| Fracture type | What it means | Typical cost to fix |
|---|---|---|
| Craze lines | Surface cracks in enamel only — no structural damage | $0 — monitoring at regular checkup |
| Fractured cusp | A piece of the chewing surface breaks off, usually around a filling; pulp rarely affected | Filling or onlay $150-$800; crown if large $800-$3,500 |
| Cracked tooth | Crack runs from chewing surface toward the root, not yet split; pain on biting and releasing | Crown if pulp intact $800-$3,500; root canal + crown if pulp reached $1,200-$6,000 |
| Split tooth | Crack extends through both roots — tooth cannot be fully saved; sometimes one root is salvageable | Partial root resection + crown $1,500-$4,000; extraction + implant $3,000-$6,500 |
| Vertical root fracture | Crack starts at the root tip and grows upward; often symptomless until infection develops | Extraction $150-$350; extraction + implant $3,000-$6,500 |
Cracked tooth syndrome — pain on biting or releasing — is the most commonly misdiagnosed of these, because standard X-rays often miss the crack. If your dentist suspects it, expect a transillumination check ($0-$50 add-on) or a CBCT scan ($150-$600) before treatment is planned.
Severity → treatment → cost decision matrix
This is the part competitors split apart: they list fracture types or they list prices, but rarely wire them together. Use the visible damage to find the recommended fix and its real 2026 range.
| What you see / feel | Likely diagnosis | Recommended fix | Typical U.S. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny rough edge, no pain | Craze line / minor chip | Cosmetic contouring or bonding | $100 – $600 |
| Small break, front tooth | Enamel/dentin chip | Bonding or veneer | $100 – $2,500 |
| Moderate break, >50% tooth left | Fractured cusp | Filling or onlay | $150 – $500 |
| Large break on a molar | Cracked tooth | Crown (often + core buildup) | $800 – $3,500 |
| Pink/red center, throbbing | Pulp exposed | Root canal + crown | $1,500 – $6,000 |
| Crack to gumline / loose halves | Split or vertical root fracture | Extraction + implant | $3,000 – $6,500 |
When a tooth is broken flat to the gum, the dentist usually adds a core buildup (ADA code D2950, about $200-$400) to rebuild a foundation before the crown — budget for it on large breaks.
Bonding vs crown: the real decision
These two options drive most "broken tooth" quotes, and the right choice is rarely just the cheaper number.
| Factor | Bonding | Crown |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $100 – $600 | $800 – $3,500 |
| Visits | One (≈30 min) | One to two |
| Lifespan | 5 – 10 years | 15 – 20 years |
| Best for | Small front-tooth chips | Large breaks, weak molars |
| Protects a weak tooth | No | Yes (wraps the whole tooth) |
For a small chip on a tooth that is otherwise sound, bonding is the sensible, low-cost fix. For a large break — especially on a back tooth that takes heavy chewing force — a crown holds the remaining structure together and usually costs less per year of service despite the higher sticker price.
The hidden cost of waiting
Delay is the most expensive mistake with a broken tooth. A crack that starts in the enamel migrates inward, and once bacteria reach the pulp the cost ladder climbs fast:
- A $200-$400 bonding repair becomes a $2,400 root canal + crown once the nerve is involved.
- An infected, split tooth can become unsalvageable, forcing a $3,000-$6,500 extraction and implant.
Acting while the damage is shallow is almost always the cheapest path. Until you can be seen, cover a sharp edge with dental wax or a drugstore temporary paste — and never use superglue, which is toxic to the nerve and can cost you the tooth.
As an Amazon Associate, Real Dental Costs earns from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links — buying through them costs you nothing extra and helps fund our independent cost research. Recommendations are editorial and never paid placements.
Reader-picked product
Dentemp temporary repair kit (for a chipped tooth or lost filling)
A pharmacy-grade temporary cement (Dentemp, DenTek) holds a loose crown or lost filling for a day or two until your appointment — a few dollars, and the only safe at-home stopgap versus super glue. Dry-fit first, then a thin layer.
See it on Amazonopen_in_newAmazon affiliate link · current price shown on AmazonInsurance, HSA/FSA and how to save
Because a broken tooth is restorative (not cosmetic), most plans help pay:
- Coverage tiers — plans typically pay around 80% for basic work (bonding, fillings) and about 50% for major work (crowns, root canals), up to your annual maximum (commonly $1,000-$2,000).
- Cosmetic carve-out — a veneer chosen purely for appearance may be excluded, while the same veneer to restore a broken front tooth is more likely covered.
- HSA/FSA — dental repair is an IRS-eligible expense, so pre-tax dollars cut the real cost by your tax rate.
- Financing & dental schools — in-house payment plans, CareCredit-style 0% promo periods, and supervised dental-school clinics all lower out-of-pocket cost.
Related cost guides
Dental Bonding Cost
The cheapest broken-tooth fix, explained.
Dental Crown Cost
Materials and prices for the strong fix.
Root Canal Cost
What to expect when the nerve is exposed.
Emergency Dentist Cost
Same-day care without insurance.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to repair a broken tooth?
Is a broken tooth a dental emergency?
Bonding or crown for a broken tooth — which is cheaper?
Can I get a filling instead of a crown?
Does insurance cover broken tooth repair?
Should I save the tooth or have it extracted?
What happens if I leave a broken tooth untreated?
Can a broken tooth heal on its own?
What is cracked tooth syndrome and how much does diagnosing it cost?
Does insurance cover cracked tooth repair?
Independent dental pricing research — figures verified against the ADA Dental Fee Survey, FAIR Health and CMS fee schedules. Not medical advice.