Broken teeth should always be treated by a veterinarian
In the case of broken teeth, a distinction is made between complicated and uncomplicated fractures.
Different tooth fractures
Uncomplicated fracture
An uncomplicated fracture is the breaking off of a small part of the crown of a tooth without opening the pulp of the tooth (which contains nerves and blood vessels). In the process, a part of the hardest protective layer of the tooth – the tooth enamel – is lost. The underlying dentin is then exposed and the tooth becomes sensitive to pain. Small canals in the dentin can lead to bacterial invasion even without direct damage to the pulp. This can lead to tooth death and infection in the jawbone. Sealing the tooth reduces sensitivity to pain and lowers the risk of infection.
Complicated fracture
In the case of a complicated fracture, there is a direct opening of the dental pulp. The nerve of the tooth is exposed and there is slight bleeding. This can be very painful at first – the dogs salivate more and eat worse. The consequence is always an infection and the death of the tooth. There is always a need for action to avoid unnecessary pain! A tooth with an exposed pulp must either undergo a root canal treatment or be extracted to avoid chronic pain and jaw abscess. With a root canal filling, important teeth can be preserved pain-free for life.
Broken milk teeth must also be taken care of!
