Broken Tooth Repair – Your Options Discussed – Including Costs

05 June 2023

Broken Tooth Repair – Your Options Discussed – Including Costs

Let’s face it, teeth aren’t indestructible and when placed under excess force or when receiving a hefty blow or impact, they’re likely to chip or break. When this happens you are going to need a broken tooth repair treatment.

That’s the bad news…

The good news is that you have multiple options, (6 in fact) depending upon the severity of your broken tooth problem. These range from simple cosmetic contouring and dental bonding, when the tooth has developed a slight crack or chip, through to full or partial crowns or veneers. And, in scenarios where the tooth is beyond repair, removal, and replacement with dental implants.

Patients should note, however, that different treatments equate to different prices. So with this in mind, let’s dive straight in and take a closer look at your six treatment options and rough costs.

1. Cosmetic contouring

This is reserved for the smallest of tooth chips and as the name suggests is a cosmetic procedure, so in most cases, it isn’t available under the NHS. During this process any rough edges are skilfully removed through a rounding and polishing procedure, blending the chip or crack into the structure of the tooth. The result is a flawless natural look.

According to dentaly.org, prices fall somewhere between £30 and £100 per tooth, so it’s an affordable treatment even through a private dentist.

2. Dental bonding or filling

Dental bonding utilises specially designed tooth-coloured materials that are glued or positioned into a crack for repair. The material hardens and is then shaped and smoothed to blend in with the rest of your tooth.

Unfortunately, most dental bonding procedures are not normally available via the NHS but despite this, cosmetic bonding or filling is relatively affordable. According to the Dental Guide.net, prices for a broken tooth repair come in at somewhere between £90 and £200.

3. Veneers

Both composite and porcelain veneers are designed to mask any damage to teeth rather than repair them. Nevertheless, they remain an effective treatment when it comes to restoring a smile. They are best suited to chipped or cracked teeth where superficial damage is present, but the inner structure of the teeth remain strong. Essentially veneers consist of a thin film of protective tooth-like covering which is either glued or bonded on to the front of the damaged tooth to transform the smile.

If you are considering undergoing veneers from a private dentist in the UK, be aware that prices will vary, depending upon your requirements.

For example, according to the Dental Guide, composite veneer prices start at around £150 for a single tooth, whereas porcelain veneers start from around £500 per tooth. Do bear in mind that although porcelain veneers are more expensive, they will look more natural and have a considerably longer shelf life.

4. Dental crown

This is one of the most popular treatments for a broken tooth repair and is usually carried out when the cracked or broken tooth is more severely damaged. Dental crowns are designed to either sit over the entirety of the damaged tooth or – in the case of partial crowns – to cover the problem area only.

Crowns or partial onlays are custom-crafted to add strength while providing a natural look and can be made from a variety of materials. These include:

• Porcelain-fused to metal

• All-resin

• All ceramic

• All-metal (gold or another alloy)

The good news is that in most cases dental crown procedures are covered under the NHS Band 3 so broken tooth repair patients should pay exactly £269.30. However, and here’s the caveat… an NHS dentist is likely to offer you the type of crown that is clinically necessary, rather than one that may give the best long-term aesthetic.

For alternative cosmetic options, crowns and onlays can be carried out privately. Unlike NHS crowns which are governed by strict regulations regarding the materials used, private dentists are able to use materials like porcelain for an incredibly natural look. However, according to Which.co.uk, these come at a price of anywhere between £250 and £1180 per tooth.

5. Root canal treatments

For more severe damage – particularly when the inner structure (the pulp) has suffered trauma – your dentist may recommend something known as a root canal or endodontic therapy. Commonly referred to simply as a ‘root canal’ it’s a procedure where the infected or damaged pulp is removed leaving just the outer structure intact. The inner chambers are cleaned and then back-filled using a dental material like gutta-percha.

A root canal procedure does mean that the tooth (including the tooth root) is saved but the tooth itself is generally weakened by the process, meaning in most cases, a dental crown is placed on top to protect the natural tooth underneath.

Okay, so what about prices…

Again, this procedure is available on the NHS and is classed as a band 2 procedure and as such, patients can expect to currently pay £62.10. This is not allowing for the cost of a dental crown.

On the contrary, if you decide to go private, costs can vary greatly depending upon the skill of the dentist, the position of the problem and the complexity of the case. Which Magazine, for example, suggests that you can expect to pay anywhere between £45 for a straightforward root canal up to £970 for specialist-involved complex cases.

6. Tooth extraction and artificial tooth replacement

Finally, there are times when the tooth is so severely damaged that the only real option for broken tooth repair is to remove or extract the tooth entirely. This is usually only ever used as a last resort. However, once carried out an artificial tooth is generally put in its place.

This can be in the form of a bridging tooth, a partial denture or a dental implant. Here in Manchester, many people opt for the latter because implant-based restorations tend to offer the best long-term solution.

While tooth extractions can indeed be carried out via the NHS at a cost of £62.10, broken tooth repair patients can expect to pay a further £269.30 for an artificial tooth replacement such as a partial denture or conventional bridge.

When you go private, however, you may pay the same or a little more for the tooth extraction, but patients can then choose from a whole host of other tooth replacement options, including implant-supported bridges and dentures and single dental implants.

According to Dentally.org  costs for a single implant can fall anywhere between £1500 and £3000 per tooth depending upon whether you need any other preparatory surgery such as a sinus lift or bone graft. So it’s well worth doing your homework to see if the long-term results negate the initial cost.

So there you have it… everything you need to know about broken tooth repair options and costs.

Whether you decide to get your repair done under the NHS or would prefer to seek out a private dentist in Manchester the good news is that however bad the problem is, your damaged tooth can be made to look as good as new. All you need to do is to pick up the phone, book a consultation or appointment and make it happen.