Save the tooth first
Every broken tooth at In Line Dentistry is looked at in the same order. Can the tooth be kept? If so, what is the smallest repair that will hold? Only when a tooth cannot be saved does the conversation turn to taking it out and replacing it. A natural tooth is usually the better long-term result, and the sooner a break is seen, the more of the tooth there is to work with.
For what to do in the first hour, and the signs that mean the same day, see chipped or broken tooth first aid. This page is about what happens next.
The three repairs
Bonding, for small chips
A tooth-colored resin is shaped onto the tooth, hardened and polished to match. It suits a chipped corner or a small edge, usually in a single visit, with the tooth otherwise intact. Bonding is priced per tooth in writing at the exam. The comparison of veneers, bonding and crowns covers how long each lasts.
A crown, for larger breaks
When a large piece is missing, a crack runs through the tooth, or a back tooth has to take chewing force again, a porcelain crown covers the whole tooth and restores its strength. The tooth is shaped and scanned at one visit and the crown, made by a dental lab, is fitted at a second. A crown is priced in writing at the exam; the crown cost guide explains what decides the number.
Extraction and replacement, when the tooth cannot be saved
A break below the gum line, or a split root, leaves nothing for a crown to hold. Dr. Chon does the extraction in-house, priced per tooth in writing, and explains the options for the gap. A dental implant is $1,990 per implant, the implant, abutment and crown, when his exam and 3D scan confirm you are a candidate; anything more gets an itemized written price first. A bridge is the other common option. See tooth extractions and implant or bridge.
What decides between them
- How much tooth is left. Bonding needs enough tooth to bond to; a crown needs enough to hold onto.
- Whether the nerve is involved. Pain or lingering sensitivity to hot and cold can mean the break has reached it, which changes the plan.
- How deep the crack goes. A crack that stays in the crown of the tooth can be covered; one that reaches the root usually cannot.
- Where the tooth is. A front tooth is mostly about appearance; a molar is mostly about force.
The exam and X-rays answer all four, which is why the repair is chosen and priced there rather than online.
What it costs
| Step | Price |
|---|---|
| The visit: exam and X-rays, emergencies included | $95 flat, or $0 with an active PPO plan |
| Bonding | Priced per tooth in writing at the exam |
| Crown | Priced in writing at the exam |
| Extraction | Priced per tooth in writing at the exam |
| Dental implant, for candidates | $1,990 per implant |
Financing is available on approved credit through CareCredit, Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay, Sunbit, LendingClub and Proceed Finance. The visit is $95 flat, or $0 with an active PPO plan, and for the repair you pay at the visit, the office files the claim the same day and the insurer reimburses you.
Being seen quickly
Dr. Chon treats patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays and comes in on his off days for a genuine emergency, so a bad break can be seen the same day. Call or text the office and describe what happened; the office triages by phone any day it is open. Go to an emergency room or call 911 for swelling that is spreading across the face or neck, trouble breathing or swallowing, or a high fever with facial swelling.