Chipped Tooth Repair: Treatment Options, Costs & What to Do

If you’ve ever chipped a tooth, you know the feeling. One second you’re eating, talking, or minding your own business… and the next there’s that weird crunch that absolutely should not be happening. Your tongue immediately rushes over like a tiny detective trying to figure out what just broke. Somehow, the first concern is the cost of tooth repair.

The truth is, chipped teeth happen to everyone. Maybe you bit the edge of a fork. Maybe that “soft” granola bar had a hidden rock in it. Whatever caused it, the important part is knowing what to do next, and understanding the chipped tooth repair cost in Australia so you’re not left guessing.

Why Do Teeth Chip?

Tooth chipping can happen because of multiple reasons, some are obvious, while some reasons are very silent (spoiler alert, even stress can cause a chipped tooth). Here are some situations that may lead to a chipped tooth.

Playing Sports

This one’s pretty obvious. Physical sports can make you bump into people, fall, or catch an elbow without warning, and that can easily lead to injuries, including a chipped tooth. One of the easiest ways to prevent that is by wearing a mouth guard.

Biting Into Something Hard

Now, biting into something hard is not really a problem by itself. But sometimes, if you have weak enamel, biting into an accidental stone in your burrito or even trying to remove a tag from your clothes can end up breaking or chipping your tooth.

One simple fix is to stop using your teeth as tools. If something needs cutting, tearing, or pulling, just grab scissors or whatever tool is meant for that job. And when it comes to hard foods, the best thing you can do for long-term protection is strengthen your enamel. Fluoride treatments or other dentist-recommended options can help your teeth become more resistant, so small accidents don’t turn into big problems.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding is a silent culprit that can wear down your enamel and make your teeth more vulnerable to chips without you even realizing it. It often happens while you’re sleeping or during times of stress, and many people don’t know they’re doing it at all. Some even wake up with chipped teeth because the grinding happens so forcefully at night.

If you notice that your teeth feel sore in the morning, your jaw feels tight when you wake up, or you catch yourself clenching when you’re stressed, you might be grinding without knowing it. In that case, investing in a night guard can help protect your teeth from damage. While managing stress is important in the long run, a night guard gives you immediate, effective protection and keeps your enamel safe while you work on the root causes.

With that said, accidents can happen despite all the protection. So, what should you do first when your tooth chips?

The First Step After Chipping a Tooth

Take a breath, chipped teeth look dramatic, but they’re usually very fixable. Here’s what to do right away:

Rinse Your Mouth

Start by gently rinsing with warm water. It clears away any small fragments and keeps bacteria away from any exposed enamel or dentin.

Find the Broken Piece (If You Can)

If the chip is big enough and you manage to find it, keep it clean and bring it with you. Dentists can sometimes reattach the original piece, which is the most natural-looking repair.

Use a Cold Compress

If the chip happened from a bump or fall, your lip or cheek might swell. A cold compress helps calm the area down.

Avoid Hot, Cold, and Hard Foods

A chipped tooth can suddenly become very sensitive. Stick to soft, lukewarm foods until you see your dentist to avoid worsening the crack.

Book a Dentist ASAP

Even tiny chips can expand, crack deeper, or irritate the tooth nerve if you leave them untreated. Fixing a chip early is always cheaper than repairing a bigger problem later.

Cost of Fixing a Chipped Tooth

Let’s get straight to the point:

The cost to fix a chipped tooth usually ranges from $150 to $2,500.

Why the big range? It depends on the size of the chip and the kind of repair your tooth needs.

Here’s the simple breakdown:

• A small cosmetic chip = lower cost
• A deeper or cracked tooth = higher cost
• Chips involving the nerve = most expensive

Not all chips are equal, some are just a scratch in the enamel, while others go deep enough to need bonding, veneers, crowns, or even a root canal.

Here’s a clean breakdown:

So when someone asks:

What is the chipped tooth repair cost Australia?

The honest answer is: Anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on the damage.

But don’t worry… dentists will always start with the least invasive and most affordable treatment possible.

Chipped Tooth Repair Cost: Why the Range?

Because of a few important factors:

• Size of the chip
• Location of the tooth (front vs back)
• Your bite strength
• Whether the nerve is involved
• Materials used (porcelain, composite, ceramic)
• Dentist’s experience and equipment
• If you need X-rays or emergency care

In general:

• Smaller chip = smaller cost.
• Bigger break = bigger repair.

Treatment Options for a Chipped Tooth

Let’s break it down like a real person, not a textbook.

Dental Bonding

Best for: small to medium chips

Cost: $150–$350

Dental bonding is the quickest and most affordable way to fix a minor chip. Your dentist uses a tooth-coloured resin to rebuild the missing part of your tooth, shaping it so naturally that it blends right in. The best part? It’s usually done in one visit. No needles. No drilling. No downtime. For many people, bonding feels like nothing happened at all, just a smooth, restored tooth that looks and functions like new.

Veneers

Best for: cosmetic repairs and front-tooth chips

Cost: $350–$2,000 per tooth

When the chip is visible every time you smile, and you want a flawless finish, veneers are often the top choice. These thin shells of porcelain or composite are placed over the front surface of the tooth to completely transform its shape and appearance. Think of veneers as the “glow-up” version of chipped tooth repair. They’re more durable than bonding and offer a polished, long-lasting cosmetic upgrade.

Dental Crowns

Best for: major chips or cracked teeth

Cost: $1,000–$2,500

If a big portion of your tooth has broken off, a crown is usually the safest way to rebuild and protect it. A crown fits over the entire tooth, almost like a helmet, giving it back its strength, shape, and chewing ability. Crowns are known for their durability and natural appearance, making them one of the most reliable long-term solutions for significant damage.

Root Canal + Crown

Best for: chips that expose or irritate the tooth nerve

Cost: $1,500–$3,000+

When a chip goes deep enough to reach the nerve, a root canal often becomes necessary before the tooth can be crowned. It sounds intimidating, but most people say it feels similar to getting a filling, just a longer appointment. The root canal removes the damaged nerve, stops pain, and prevents infection. After that, a crown is placed to fully restore strength and appearance.

Is a Chipped Tooth Covered by Medicare?

In most cases, no. Medicare doesn’t cover chipped tooth repairs. General dental work isn’t included unless you fall under a specific government program, such as the Child Dental Benefits Scheme.

For adults, chipped tooth repairs are usually an out-of-pocket expense, or you can claim part of the cost through private dental insurance if your policy includes restorative treatments.

Can a Dentist Fix a Chipped Tooth Immediately?

Most of the time, yes.

If the chip is small, dentists can often repair it during the same visit using bonding or a simple polish. Larger repairs, like crowns or veneers, might take a second appointment unless your clinic has same-day ceramic technology.

And if you’re in pain or the tooth is sharp, dentists treat it as a priority, so you’re usually seen quickly and made comfortable right away.

How Long Does a Fixed Chipped Tooth Last?

It depends on the treatment:

Daily habits matter too. Chewing ice? Biting fingernails? Grinding at night? These can shorten the lifespan (and increase chipped tooth cost long-term).

Broken Tooth vs Chipped Tooth - Is There a Difference?

Yes, and the cost reflects that. A simple chip usually affects only the enamel, which is quick and easy to repair. But when a tooth breaks or cracks deeper into the dentin or even near the nerve, the treatment becomes far more complex. That means more steps, more time, and naturally, a higher cost to fix it properly and protect the tooth long term.

That’s why broken tooth repair costs tend to be higher than simple tooth chip repair costs.

So… What’s the Best Option for a Chipped Tooth?

Here’s the truth: no two chipped teeth are the same. Some need a quick bonding fix. Others need a crown. And sometimes the nerve gets involved, which changes everything.

But the good news?

Almost every chipped tooth can be repaired beautifully. Most treatments are fast, painless, and match your natural tooth so well that nobody will ever know something happened.

And the cost? It’s almost always cheaper to fix a chip early than to wait for it to worsen.

If you’ve chipped a tooth, big or small, book a dental appointment as soon as you can. Your smile (and your wallet) will thank you.