How much does it cost to repair a chipped tooth?

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body.² However, chipping a tooth is common and can happen in a number of ways: 

• Biting down on something hard (ice, hard candy) 
• Trauma to the mouth or face 
• Bruxism (teeth grinding) 
• Uneven chewing pressure 
• Using teeth to open a bottle or package 

If you do chip a tooth, take these actions right away: 

• Call your dentist and make an appointment as soon as possible—preferably the same day. 
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to reduce the risk of infection. 
• Apply pressure with a clean gauze if your mouth is bleeding. 
• Cover the chip with a piece of sugarless gum or paraffin wax if it’s sharp or jagged. 

If fixing the chip is medically necessary, your dental insurance plan may cover some of the costs. If you don’t have dental insurance, you can use a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to pay for medically necessary dental treatments. HSAs and FSAs allow you to save money in an account before it’s been taxed to pay for eligible medical expenses.

For small chips, your dentist may simply smooth and polish the affected area. For medium and large chips, repairing the tooth will likely require 1 of these treatments: 

• Dental bonding —A simple procedure where a composite material is molded onto the tooth to replace the missing piece. Once the composite has hardened, it can be polished to a natural-looking finish. 
• Dental crowns —A metal, ceramic or porcelain shell that is custom fitted to cover an entire tooth. Crowns protect the tooth from irritation and infection and can help restore a natural appearance. According to the American Dental Association 2020 Survey of Dental Fees, a single dental crown can range from $278 to $1,637.¹
• Dental veneers —Like crowns, veneers are porcelain covers for teeth. A thin layer can be used to cover the front of the tooth while a thicker section can fill in the chipped part of the tooth. According to the American Dental Association 2020 Survey of Dental Fees, a single dental veneer can cost up to $1,200.¹
• Dental implants —If your tooth is severely chipped, cracked or broken, your dentist may recommend having the tooth removed and replaced with a dental implant. According to the American Dental Association 2020 Survey of Dental Fees, a single dental implant can range from $540 to $2,868.¹

In severe cases, you may also need a root canal. This is only needed if the chip exposes the tooth's nerves and roots or damages the inner tissue. The root canal will remove the affected nerves or tissues and the tooth can be sealed up with a filling or crown. According to the American Dental Association 2020 Survey of Dental Fees, root canals can cost anywhere between $470–$1,500.¹

If you need dental treatment, Humana can help. We offer a broad range of dental plans with varying levels of coverage, many with affordable monthly premiums. Some of our plans also feature no waiting periods, which means you could get covered in about 5 days. To explore plans and prices in your area, check out our Humana dental insurance page.