If you have chipped off just a small piece of tooth enamel, your dentist may repair the damage with a filling. If the repair is to a front tooth or can be seen when you smile, your dentist will likely use a procedure called bonding, which uses a tooth-colored composite resin. It is possible for a tooth to repair itself if the damage is minimal. For example, a tooth with a crack on the outer level and a minimal fracture line that does not cause pain may repair itself over time. The healing process is known as remineralization and refers to the minerals in our mouths. Left untreated, a damaged tooth can become infected, possibly causing you to end up losing the tooth. Treatment for a broken or chipped tooth will depend on how severely the tooth is damaged. If only a small piece of enamel is broken off, the repair can typically be done in a single visit with dental bonding.
