Even
veterinarians can make bad choices when it comes to their pet’s health. I learned this when I discovered my dog, Nikki, had a broken tooth. The
cause was a chew item I thought was a safe option for her to gnaw on. But I was
wrong- no chew item is risk free. Sadly my Nikki had to crack three teeth for
me to learn that lesson.
Oh yes,
it was three broken teeth! But more on that later...
Considering Chew Options
What chew
options are there? As the owner of a large powerful chewer I considered the
possibilities for my dog. She has a sensitive stomach and cannot tolerate
edible bones or preserved rawhide products. Thank goodness, because feeding my
dog pig snouts or pizzles just makes me want to gag. I’m not a fan of real
bones- too many patients with broken teeth, gastrointestinal blockages, and
even one with a bone shard migrating through the side of a it’s throat.
Soft
plastic toys don’t survive the first two minutes with her, and plush toys
quickly lose eyes, limbs and squeakers with her near surgical precision.
So I
chose to offer synthetic Nylabone style bones to deal with her chewing drive.
Nikki loves the flavors and happily chews away for long periods of time. When
the bone looks damaged, I throw it away. It seemed like the perfect solution for a vigorous chewer.
Discovering Her Broken Tooth
While
brushing Nikki’s teeth, I noted a fracture of her upper fourth premolar tooth.
This is the largest cheek tooth on a dog or cat’s upper jaw, and serves to chew
and grind food. The outer layer of the tooth was sheared off, just like a shelf
of ice cracking off an iceberg. This type of fracture is common from dogs
chewing on an object harder than tooth enamel. Common culprits for this
type of tooth damage include antler chews, Nylabones, real bones, or ice.
What to Do With Broken Teeth?
Not all
tooth fractures are created equal. An uncomplicated tooth fracture is one in which
only the enamel is broken. The tooth is vulnerable to further injury but is not
immediately causing the pet pain. A complicated fracture is one in which the
break extends beyond the enamel into the pulp chamber.
The pulp
of a tooth is the inner layer where the nerve and blood supply runs. Exposure
of the pulp not only causes pain, but serves as direct pathway for oral
bacteria to cause a tooth abscess or spread through the bloodstream.
How to Treat a Tooth Fracture?
A
complicated tooth fracture requires either a root canal or surgical extraction.
Leaving a complicated tooth fracture untreated is NOT an option. These teeth
hurt and shouldn’t be ignored. Pets won’t whine or cry out in pain with broken
teeth, but rather suffer in silence. But after a diseased tooth is addressed,
owners commonly note their pet’s overall activity and attitude improve.
The
preferred treatment for a complicated tooth fractures is a root canal. During a
root canal the contents of the pulp are removed, filled in, and the tooth is
sealed. After the root canal therapy the tooth is still functional for normal
chewing activities.
If root
canal cannot be pursued, then the tooth should be surgically extracted. This
removes the source of pain and potential infection. However, surgical removal
of broken teeth may affect the pet’s ability to chew on that side in the
future.
Uncomplicated
tooth fractures aren’t treated as above, but rather may need outward support of
the area with bonding restoration.
My Dog’s Dentist Visit
Dental
cleanings and extractions are a daily service at most veterinary practises, but
root canals and tooth restorations aren’t commonly available at general
practices. I knew I could pull Nikki’s tooth, but to save this tooth in my
young dog, I’d need to see a veterinary dental specialist.
Nikki and
I arrived at Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists where she was evaluated by
Dr. Chris Visor and determined to have an uncomplicated fracture of her
premolar, and small uncomplicated breaks on two molars.
Her
premolar fracture was limited to the enamel, luckily sparing pulp damage, which
means she wasn’t in pain. But the damaged tooth would be at risk for further
injury, so she was fitted for a restoration with a metallic crown. (Porcelain
isn’t durable in pets so it’s not commonly used) The two other broken teeth had
minor damage, so the rough edges were drilled smooth and the tooth surface
bonded.
Lesson Learned
After her
crown placement, Nikki can’t chew on hard chew bones like before. If she did,
it could risk damage to her crown as well as her other teeth. Veterinary
dentists warn dog owners this test of your dog’s chew item- if you whack your
knee with your dog’s chew item and it hurts you, it’ll likely break her teeth.
Now I can
only imagine scores of dog owners going to their doctors with knee pain….
Take Away
Tips: Can You Detect Your Pet’s Broken Tooth?
Most
broken teeth are detected during a physical exam by your veterinarian, but some
observant pet owners may discover clues to their pet’s broken tooth.
1.
No complaining. Don’t
expect your pet to cry or whine. People complain loudly when a tooth hurts, but
pets just don’t verbalize dental pain.
2.
Uneven tartar accumulation. Due to tooth pain, the pet chews on
one side more, the “good side”. Tartar builds up more on the “bad side”.
3.
Dark spot on tooth. Enamel is evenly white, but darker or grey spots
could indicate exposed pulp or dentin at the site of a fracture.
4.
Draining wound present below the eye. A broken upper premolar or
molar with an infected root can cause a draining wound under the eye.
