Can a Dentist Cap a Broken Tooth? Your Guide to Dental Crowns

That moment you feel a sudden crunch—maybe while biting into a piece of food—or notice a sharp, jagged edge with your tongue, panic sets in. “Did I just break my tooth?” If you’re staring into the bathroom mirror, wondering whether a dentist can fix it, you’re not alone. Lots of people face broken teeth every year, and most have the same questions rushing through their heads: Is this fixable? Will I lose my tooth? What happens next?

Here’s the simple, reassuring truth: Yes, a dentist can often cap a broken tooth using a custom dental crown. In fact, dental crowns—sometimes called tooth caps—are one of the most common, trusted ways to fix teeth with medium to big damage. This guide will walk you through how it works, when it’s an option, what to expect from the process, and the other choices if a crown isn’t right for you.

In This Article

• What is a Dental Cap (Crown)?
• When Can a Broken Tooth Be Saved with a Crown?
• How Does the Dental Crown Process Work?
• What Are the Alternatives to Crowning a Broken Tooth?
• Benefits of Dental Crowns for Broken Teeth
• Cost, Longevity, and Ongoing Care
• What To Do Right Away if You Break a Tooth
• Healthy Takeaways: What You Need to Remember

What is a Dental Cap (Crown)?

Let’s start with the basics. A dental crown—also known as a ‘tooth cap’—is like a hard hat for your tooth. But instead of at a work site, it sits right on top of your broken tooth to protect and fix it. Crowns are custom-made repairs, made to cover the whole part of a tooth you can see above your gums.

Why Would You Need One?

Think of your natural tooth as a tree trunk. If that trunk cracks or has a piece missing, it needs something strong around it to keep standing. Crowns do just that:

• They bring back shape, size, and strength to broken, cracked, or heavily filled teeth.
• They seal off the inside of the tooth, helping keep out more damage or germs.
• Crowns can make the tooth look better, especially after a big break, making your smile look normal again.

Materials: What Are Tooth Caps Made Of?

Crowns aren’t all the same. Dentists choose from a few good, strong materials:

• Porcelain: Looks most like a natural tooth; good for front teeth.
• Zirconia: Strong and tooth-colored—great for back teeth that do lots of chewing.
• Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM): Strong like metal, nice-looking like porcelain.
• E-max: All-ceramic, known for looking good and lasting a long time.
• Gold: Classic, but lasts for years, usually chosen for molars.

Every material has its own good points. Your dentist will help pick the one that’s best for you.

When Can a Broken Tooth Be Saved with a Crown?

You might wonder, “Is my tooth too far gone?” Dentists look at a few things to decide if a cap is the right fix.

How Bad is the Break

• Big Breaks or Large Chips: If the break is big enough that a simple filling or dental bonding won’t work, a crown is usually needed.
• Large, Old Fillings: Sometimes an old filling leaves too little tooth. A crown steps in to make it strong again.
• Root Canal Treated Teeth: Teeth that had root canals get weak, so a crown works like armor for them.
• Cracked Tooth Problem: Crowns can stop cracks from getting bigger and can help with pain.

Is There Enough Tooth Left?

• Enough Healthy Tooth: There needs to be enough strong tooth above the gum for the crown to hang on to.
• Healthy Root and Bone: If the root and bone around the tooth are healthy, that’s good.
• No Bad Infections: If infection is inside or the nerve is hurt, a root canal may be needed before a crown goes on.

Which Tooth is It?

• Front Teeth: Crowns here focus on looking nice.
• Back Teeth (Molars, Premolars): Strength and holding up to chewing are most important.

Fun Fact

Did you know? About 70-85% of molars that get a root canal end up needing a crown for protection (source).

When Can’t a Tooth Be Crowned?

Sometimes, the damage is just too much—if the crack goes below the gum line (into the root) or there’s not enough tooth left, your dentist may suggest something else, like pulling the tooth.

How Does the Dental Crown Process Work?

If you’ve never had a crown, it can sound a little scary. But the steps are simple, common, and—thanks to numbing medicine—shouldn’t hurt.

Step-by-Step Overview

1. Check & Plan

Your dentist looks at your tooth, asks about how it feels, and takes X-rays to check the roots and bone. You’ll talk about which crown types are good options.

2. Getting the Tooth Ready

Your dentist will make your mouth numb. Then, they gently shave away just enough of the outer tooth to make space for the crown. If the tooth is very weak, a post and core (like a support pole inside cement) may be added for extra strength.

3. Taking Impressions or Scans

Your dentist gets the exact shape of your tooth—either with a mold, or more often now, a digital 3D scan.

4. Temporary Crown

You’ll leave your first visit with a temporary cap. It keeps your tooth safe while your real crown is made at a dental ceramics lab or a digital dental lab.

5. Putting the New Crown On

At your second visit, the temporary is taken off, and the new crown is carefully checked to make sure it fits and your bite feels good. If all is good, it’s glued on for good.

6. Same-Day Crowns (CEREC)

Some dentists offer same-day crowns made with CEREC or other 3D machines. You get your real crown in just one visit!

What About Getting Numb?

You’ll almost always get numbing for the prep, so you shouldn’t feel pain. Some people like to be more relaxed, so talk to your dentist if you want something to calm your nerves.

What Are the Alternatives to Crowning a Broken Tooth?

Not every broken tooth needs a cap. The fix depends on how much damage you have:

Dental Bonding

• Best for: Small chips or cracks.
• Analogy: Think of bonding as using repair putty for a small dent.
• Pros: Quick, not much fuss, not too expensive.
• Cons: Might not last as long, not as tough as a crown.

Veneers

• Best for: Small to medium problems on front teeth.
• What Are They? Thin covers (usually porcelain) glued to the front of a tooth. Want to know more? Check out this veneer info.
• Pros: Look very natural, keeps more of your own tooth.
• Cons: Not for back teeth or big breaks.

Inlays and Onlays

• Best for: Middle-sized damage to the chewing surface when a full crown is too much.
• Analogy: These are like puzzle pieces made to fit the missing part of your tooth.
• Pros: Keep more of your real tooth.
• Cons: Won’t work if the break is too big.

Root Canal (With or Without Crown)

If the nerve is open or infected, your dentist may say a root canal is first needed to clean out germs. That tooth still often needs a crown for safety after.

Pulling The Tooth and Replacing It

If the tooth can’t be saved, it may need to come out. Don’t worry—today’s replacements look and feel real:

• Dental Implants: The top choice, acting as a new root for a tooth.
• Dental Bridges: Use nearby teeth to hold up a false tooth.

Benefits of Dental Crowns for Broken Teeth

Why go through all this? Crowns have real, simple benefits:

• Helps Chewing and Speaking: You can eat and talk easily—no more skipping your favorite foods.
• Makes the Tooth Strong: A crown takes the stress off weak spots and keeps the break from getting worse.
• Keeps Out Decay and Infection: By closing off the broken tooth, you keep germs away.
• Makes You Confident to Smile: Crowns are shaped and colored to look like real teeth—you won’t have to hide your mouth.
• Lasts for Years: Crowns usually last 5-15 years, sometimes more with good care.

Cost, Longevity, and Ongoing Care

Money is important, and taking care of your teeth is too. Here are the basics.

Typical Costs (USD, per tooth)

• Porcelain/Zirconia: $1,000 – $3,000+
• Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM): $800 – $2,500
• Gold: $900 – $3,000+ (depends on gold prices)

Note: These are ballpark numbers and can change depending on where you live, your dentist, and how tough your case is. Insurance often pays for 50-80% after your deductible, but check your plan first.

How Long Do Crowns Last?

• Most Crowns: 5–15 years, sometimes even longer.
• What Makes Crowns Last? Brush and floss well, don’t chew ice or super hard things, and go to your dentist for check-ups.

Why Do Crowns Fail?

• New Cavities: Germs sneak under the edge of the crown.
• Breaks: Biting on very hard stuff.
• Gum Trouble: Weakens the grip on your tooth.

With good care (brushing, flossing, regular dental visits), crowns can last a long time.

Aftercare Tips

• Brush and floss every day.
• Skip sticky or very hard foods (like caramel or jawbreakers).
• Tell your dentist right away if you feel any pain, have sensitivity, or the crown is loose.

If your crown comes off, save it, don’t use that tooth, and call your dentist—you might be able to have it glued back on.

What To Do Right Away if You Break a Tooth

A broken tooth can be a shock, but these steps help keep you calm and give you the best chance at saving the tooth.

1. Call Your Dentist Fast

Set up an appointment—most dental offices keep time open for emergencies.

2. Handle Pain

Take pain medicine like ibuprofen (if it’s okay for you) and use a cold pack on your face if you need it.

3. Keep the Tooth Safe

• Don’t chew on that side.
• If there’s a sharp spot, you can cover it with sugar-free gum or dental wax for now.

4. Save the Pieces

Bring any broken tooth bits with you—they may help in fixing your tooth.

These steps not only cut down on pain, but may help the dentist save your tooth.

Who’s a Good Candidate for a Tooth Cap?

Here’s the real deal: Not every broken tooth can get a crown. Here’s what you need:

• Enough Solid Tooth Above the Gums: Your dentist needs something to attach the crown to.
• Healthy Root: If there’s an infection, it needs fixing first.
• You Use the Tooth: If the tooth is for chewing or your smile, saving it is extra important.

Who might not be a candidate?

• If the tooth is broken below the gum or root,
• If gum disease has left too little bone,
• Or, if infection or decay is just too far along.

Real-World Stories, Success Rates, and Peace of Mind

Still not sure? You’re not alone! Millions of dental crowns are done each year all over the world and most people are happy with them. Studies show about 85–95% of people like how their crowns work and look. They go back to eating, talking, and smiling like normal.

Numbers for how well crowns last are also good:

With good care, lots of crowns last even longer—especially those made in skilled crown and bridge labs or made with tough stuff like zirconia or E-max.

Healthy Takeaways: What You Need to Remember

Here’s a quick wrap-up so you feel ready and more confident:

• A dentist can usually cap (crown) most broken teeth, as long as there is enough of the tooth and root left.
• Dental crowns are custom caps that fix how a tooth works, looks, and feels strong again.
• Not every tooth can be saved. Your dentist will tell you if a crown is possible or if another fix is better.
• Other choices include—bonding, veneers, or pulling the tooth with options for replacements like dental implants, depending on your needs.
• Same-day crowns can be done in some cases, thanks to new technology.
• Crowns last a long time, with high success and happy patients.
• Fast action helps: Call your dentist soon after breaking a tooth; keeping it safe and pain under control helps your chances.

Final Note: Your Next Step

Breaking a tooth can be scary, but you’ve got options—and there’s a good chance your dentist can fix your smile with a natural-looking crown. The smartest first step? Call your dentist right away. They’ll guide you on what’s best for your situation and help you feel like yourself again soon.

Want to learn more about how dental repairs work or how technology is changing tooth fixes? Dig deeper with info on china dental labs, modern tech, and more in the links above.

Here’s to a healthier, stronger smile—and having the confidence to use it!

Sources:

• American Dental Association (ADA)
• Systematic reviews in dental journals (Almeida et al., 2017; Pjetursson et al., 2018)
• Aquilino SA, Caplan DJ. “Relationship between crown placement and the survival of endodontically treated teeth.” J Prosthet Dent. 2002
• Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)

This article is for learning only and isn’t personal dental advice. Always check with your dentist for care that’s right for you.