That cracked tooth from chewing on an antler or a bone isn’t just cosmetic — if it’s exposed the pulp, it’s painful and on its way to becoming an infected, abscessed mess. You’ve got two main fixes: pull the tooth or save it with a root canal. Extraction runs $400 to $1,200; a root canal by a veterinary dentist runs $1,500 to $3,000. The right answer depends on which tooth broke and what it does.
Dogs break teeth constantly — hard chews, fences, rocks, other dogs. Knowing the cost of each path helps you decide before the infection forces your hand.
- Surgical extraction of a fractured tooth: $400–$1,200
- Root canal therapy (saves the tooth): $1,500–$3,000
- Crown placement (after root canal, optional): +$1,000–$2,000
- Dental X-ray + exam: $150–$400
- The most commonly fractured teeth are the large carnassials and canines — and those are exactly the ones worth saving with a root canal in working dogs
- Veterinary dental specialists report that a fractured tooth exposing the pulp will become infected if left untreated — “monitoring” a pulp-exposed fracture is not a safe option
- A fractured tooth with no pulp exposure may only need smoothing and monitoring
Fractured Tooth Treatment Cost Comparison
| Item | Low | High | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam + dental X-rays | $150 | $400 | $250 |
| Anesthesia + monitoring | $200 | $600 | $400 |
| Surgical extraction (fractured tooth) | $200 | $800 | $450 |
| Root canal (specialist) | $1200 | $2500 | $1800 |
| Crown (metal, optional) | $1000 | $2000 | $1400 |
| Pain meds + antibiotics | $30 | $120 | $70 |
| Recheck X-ray (root canal) | $150 | $400 | $200 |
| Total extraction case | $400 | $1200 | $700 |
Extraction: The Reliable, Cheaper Fix
Pulling the fractured tooth removes the problem permanently. No more pain, no infection risk, done. For most pet dogs and most teeth, this is the practical choice — it’s cheaper and it’s a one-and-done procedure.
The catch is that extracting a large multi-rooted tooth like a carnassial is real surgery: the tooth gets sectioned, the roots come out individually, and the gum is sutured. That’s why a single fractured carnassial extraction can hit $800 or more. Smaller fractured teeth are far cheaper. If you’re already facing this, our dog dental extraction guide breaks down per-tooth pricing.
Root Canal: Saving the Tooth
A root canal removes the dead or dying pulp and seals the tooth, keeping it in place and functional. It’s done by a board-certified veterinary dentist and costs significantly more — often $1,800 — because it requires specialized equipment and training.
When is it worth it? Mainly for the strategic teeth: the big canines and carnassials, especially in working, police, or sport dogs that need full jaw strength and bite. For the average pet, extraction usually makes more financial sense. A crown on top of a root canal adds another $1,000+ and is reserved for dogs that put serious force on the tooth.
Why You Can’t Just Wait
A fracture that exposes the pulp is an open door for bacteria straight into the tooth root and jawbone. It will abscess. Dogs mask the pain by chewing on the other side, so you may not notice until there’s facial swelling — at which point you’re at the dog emergency vet for an infected jaw, paying more than the original treatment would have cost.
If you spot a broken tooth with a pink or dark dot in the center (exposed pulp), don’t monitor it. Get it evaluated.
Keeping Costs Reasonable
- Get dental X-rays — they reveal whether the root is involved and which treatment is actually viable
- Skip “indestructible” chews going forward — antlers, bones, and hard nylon are the top tooth-breakers; tooth fractures are a leading reason for dental visits
- Combine with a dog teeth cleaning if your dog is due, since the anesthesia is already covered
- Use CareCredit for vet bills to spread a root canal cost
- Check your policy — many plans cover broken teeth as accidents even when they exclude routine dental disease; see pet insurance how it works
Compared to a routine average vet visit, tooth treatment is a meaningful expense, but a painful infected tooth is not something to economize on. Pick the path that fits your dog’s needs and your budget — and act before the infection does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dog tooth extraction typically costs $400 to $1,200, depending on the tooth location, complexity, and whether your vet needs to perform surgical extraction. Simple extractions of loose teeth fall on the lower end, while deeply rooted molars requiring surgical removal can reach $1,200.
Most pet insurance plans classify tooth fractures as pre-existing conditions if present before coverage starts, and many exclude routine dental work entirely. You'll likely pay out-of-pocket for extraction ($400–$1,200) or root canal ($1,500–$3,000), though some accident-focused policies may cover trauma-related fractures if filed promptly.
Recovery from tooth extraction typically takes 7 to 10 days, during which your dog should eat soft food and avoid chewing toys or hard treats. Most dogs return to normal activity within 2 weeks, though the extraction site continues healing internally for several more weeks.