Broken Teeth Hurt!

on September 01, 2010 at 1:44 PM, updated September 01, 2010 at 2:04 PM
Broken Tooth.jpgBroken left canine tooth
Fractured teeth are a common occurrence in dogs and cats, and most often affect the large front canine teeth (fangs) and the upper large back premolar teeth.  Causes for fractured teeth include traumatic injury, such as being hit by a car, or chewing on hard objects, such as bones or chew toys.  This is a common problem in working dogs, such as police dogs, who may break teeth pursuing suspects in the line of duty.

Because dogs and cats are stoic, they tend to hide obvious signs of pain.  We know, without question, that fractured teeth can be a source of local infection and pain.  It is common for people to assume that their pets are cranky or reluctant to play because they are just "getting old" and sometimes it is actually because they are painful or uncomfortable.  Most families report a significant improvement in their pet's attitude after fractured teeth are repaired. 

Treatment options for fractured teeth depend on when the fracture occurred, the age

RootCanal.jpgPost root canal x-ray
of the pet and the stage of the disease.  Essentially there are two basic options; extraction (tooth removal) or endodontic therapy (root canal treatment).

To find out more about the options that our Veterinary Dentist, Dr. Kristin Walker can offer, visit Dentristy at AERA