Broken Teeth

Here's today's question from the wide world of internet:

Hi.  We have a 1.5yr old Samoyed. He cracked his fang tooth in half with slight pulp showing. We have been referred to dental specialist 150 miles away from us. He has put him on pain relief and antibiotics for 2 months, apparently until the tissue around the tooth dies so that they can do a root canal. This doesn't seem right and is costing a fortune!  What do you think?

 I am no dental expert and I have not seen your dog.  Having said that...

 
If the canine tooth (fang) has exposed pulp, then you really have three alternatives:

1. Do nothing, let the tooth abscess.  The dog could be in pain for years.  Bad idea.  Imagine your tooth is broken and the nerve is exposed.  Now imagine that you can't do anything about it... for weeks (or longer).  Now imagine that it doesn't hurt.  Good luck with that, huh?

2. Extract the tooth.  The root is about twice the size of the exposed fang - huge, not all that easy to extract.  This is oral surgery, and it isn't cheap, but it sounds cheap when you compare it to the cost of the root canal.

3. Root canal therapy.  Saves the tooth (probably) and eliminates the dog's pain.  Costs a lot, as it requires specialized equipment and specialized knowledge.  Believe me, as someone whose family dentist performed a root canal that should have been done by an endodontic specialist the FIRST time, you don't want a "bargain" root canal.

In the immortal words of Charley Allnutt in  "The African Queen", "You pays your money and you takes your choice."

Good luck.

Comments

[Teri and the cats of Furrydance]

People have such a fear of extractions...I am not sure why as many of them aren't very proactive about their own dental care!

I just had an almost full mouth extraction with one of my senior cats, done in 2 separate procedures about 6 weeks apart, so we lessened the risk of fracturing the jaw as all 4 K-9's had to come out.

This kitty now weighs more than he ever has, by 12 oz, and he is so much happier and comfortable.

[Janet]

Spot broke his canines over the years because he loves to put his Almost Indestructible Ball in his mouth and carry it a few feet/across the yard and then pry it out of his mouth. The first time our vet saw his teeth, he asked if Spot had been chewing rocks. The broken teeth don't seem to be causing him any pain, our vet checks them when we visit. I'd probably have a tooth pulled if it was causing any problems.

[Animals Away]

We should take care of our pets dental care as we do our own, unfortunately many don't understand this concept.

[dental consulting]

It would be a very good idea to take your dog to the vet. Better to have an expert take that tooth out and treat it afterwards.

[Cat food]

As they age, most cats will experience dental problems, ranging from broken teeth and inflamed gums to periodontal disease and cavities. An examination by your veterinarian is the only sure-fire way to know if your cat has dental issues. There are, however, things that cat owners can do to help care for their cat's teeth.