Will a Small Chipped Tooth Smooth Out on Its Own?
You ran your tongue over it, found a sharp little edge, and now you are wondering whether a small chipped tooth will smooth out on its own. Partly. Here is which part.
The rough edge may soften a little over time, but the missing piece of tooth will not grow back. Enamel does not regenerate, so a chip that is gone stays gone.
Cleveland Clinic notes that for minor chips a dentist may simply buff the jagged edges, and that over time the tooth may smooth out even more on its own. That is the sense in which a small chip smooths out: the sharp corner wears down. The tooth does not fill back in.
On the growing-back question, Cleveland Clinic is blunt: lost enamel does not grow back. So a tiny chip may stop bothering you, but it will always be there, and the only way to know it is just enamel is to have it looked at.
Chip by Chip
What Different Chips Usually Need
Treatment options as Cleveland Clinic and the NHS describe them. Which one fits your tooth is a decision made in the chair, not on a web page.
| The chip | Common fix | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| A tiny chip with a sharp edge, no pain | Polishing | Smoothing the jagged edge so the tooth blends in with the teeth around it. |
| A noticeable chip on a front tooth | Bonding | A tooth-colored composite resin is shaped to fill in the chip. |
| A chip you want hidden completely | Veneer | A thin covering over the front of the tooth that hides imperfections. See cosmetic dentistry. |
| A large break | Crown | A tooth-shaped crown that covers and protects what is left of the tooth. |
| A break deep enough to expose the nerve | Root canal, then a restoration | Root canal treatment deals with the inside of the tooth before it is rebuilt. |
Keep the Piece if You Find It
The NHS says a broken-off piece should go in milk or saliva and come with you to the dentist, who may be able to glue it back on. Cleveland Clinic gives the same advice about milk. It does not always work, but it takes ten seconds to try.
Before Your Appointment
What to Do With a Chipped Tooth Right Now
These are the at-home steps Cleveland Clinic recommends while you wait to be seen.
- Cover the sharp edge. Dental wax, or a mouth guard, keeps a jagged edge from catching your tongue and cheek.
- Keep brushing and flossing. Gently, around the chipped tooth as well as everywhere else.
- Manage the soreness. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, and an ice pack, help if the area is sore.
- Chew on the other side. Stick to soft foods and avoid using the injured tooth. If the pain is severe, Cleveland Clinic suggests avoiding solid food until you are seen.
- Save the fragment. In milk, if you have some.
None of that repairs the tooth. It keeps a small problem from turning into a sore one until a dentist can see it.
When to Call
When a Small Chip Is Not So Small
Most small chips are cosmetic. The ones worth a same-week call are chips that hurt, chips that are sensitive to hot or cold, and chips that look deeper than the surface. Cleveland Clinic notes a chip can be serious enough to expose the nerve, and that changes the treatment entirely.
If you are in pain or the break is large, start with our emergency dentist page. For a small chip that just bothers you, our own guide to chipping a tooth walks through the repair options in more detail.
Sampson Dental Group handles restorative and cosmetic repairs under one roof, so a chip that turns out to need a crown does not mean a referral to a practice you have never been to.
Three Offices
Chipped Tooth Repair in Gahanna, Powell and Westerville
Chipped teeth are examined and repaired at all three Sampson Dental Group offices around Columbus. Call the nearest one and describe what the tooth is doing.
Gahanna, OH
156 Granville Street, Gahanna, OH 43230
Weekday appointments. Call for current hours.
Powell, OH
226 West Olentangy Street, Powell, OH 43065
Weekday appointments. Call for current hours.
Westerville, OH
135 Hoff Road, Suite B, Westerville, OH 43082
Weekday appointments. Call for current hours.
What Patients Say
Trusted Across Columbus
"Everyone who works there is so nice and I'm so very happy with all of the work I've had done and how great my smile looks"
Trish F., from our testimonials pageCommon Questions
More Questions About Chipped Teeth
Will a small chipped tooth smooth out on its own?
The sharp edge may soften a little over time, but the missing enamel will not grow back. Cleveland Clinic notes that for minor chips a dentist may buff the jagged edges, and that the tooth may smooth out a bit more on its own after that. The chip itself stays.
Can a chipped tooth grow back?
No. Cleveland Clinic states that once tooth enamel is gone, it does not grow back. Fluoride treatments can help repair lightly damaged enamel, but they cannot replace a piece that has broken off.
Can a dentist just smooth a chipped tooth?
For a minor chip, often yes. Polishing smooths the jagged edge so the tooth blends in with its neighbors. Larger chips usually need bonding, a veneer or a crown instead.
What should I do with the piece that broke off?
Keep it. The NHS advises putting it in milk or saliva and taking it to the dentist, who may be able to glue it back on.
Is a chipped tooth an emergency?
A small, painless chip usually is not, but it should still be seen. Severe pain, a large break, or a chip that seems to reach deep into the tooth is worth an urgent call. Cleveland Clinic advises scheduling an appointment as soon as possible when the pain is severe.
How is a chipped front tooth fixed?
Usually with bonding, where tooth-colored composite resin fills in the chip, or a veneer that covers the front of the tooth. A larger break may need a crown. The right choice depends on how much tooth is missing.
Sources
Have the Chip Looked At
Polishing, bonding and crowns at our Gahanna, Powell and Westerville offices