Originally Posted by SkyDog75

Even a worn chainring typically won't "slip a tooth" because so many teeth are engaged with the chain. Actually, one of the symptoms of using a worn chainring is exactly the opposite. "Chain suck" is when the chain fails to dis-engage from the chainring and it rides up the back side of the crankset, potentially getting jammed up between your chainrings and the frame, and possibly even doing damage. (Worn chainrings aren't the only cause for chain suck, but it is one possible cause.)

Anyway, worn chainrings can typically be identified visually. As they wear, the chainring's teeth will develop a consistent "shark fin" profile. The reason I specify "consistent" is that many chainrings nowadays have differently-shaped teeth at various points on the ring to aid shifting.