An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – or, when it comes to veterinary dentistry, a pulled tooth.
Dogs, you may have noticed, love to chew things. It’s a good, healthy part of their nature. But they’re not the most discriminatory, and that’s where pet owners must come in, says Dr. Brittany Sembler, DVM.
“Dogs—whether a teacup Chihuahua or a Great Dane—should not have access to anything that you cannot bend or flex by hand, or put an indent in with your fingertip,” Dr. Sembler says.
The reason, she notes, is that a dog’s enamel – that is, the hard surface of a tooth – is much thinner than ours.
“The enamel on your dog’s teeth is about 10 percent the thickness of a human’s,” she continues. “So, when you have a hard structure meeting another hard structure, something’s gotta give – and it’s usually the tooth.”
Dr. Sembler has seen her share of broken teeth. The Bucks County native previously worked as an associate veterinarian with the Doylestown Veterinary Hospital team and is currently in her third-year residency at the Animal Dental Center, in Towson, Maryland.
While she says fractures can happen at any age – they are typically seen in dogs between the ages of 3 and 5 years old, when the teeth have begun to lose a bit of their elasticity.
For that reason, veterinary dentists urge against products like Nylabones, Yak chews, and antlers – all of which can lead to fractures.
But accidents do happen. And dogs chew. So, it’s best to know the signs of a broken tooth.
How Do I Know If My Dog Has a Broken Tooth?
A tooth fracture is not always 100% obvious, depending upon its severity. But there are a few things to keep an eye on, Dr. Sembler says.
If your dog has shifted chewing to one side of their mouth, it typically signifies some discomfort is present, she says. A sudden aversion to playing with favored chew toys is also a huge red flag.
“We’ve heard owners say, ‘My dog will chew on a toy for two hours, but today they stopped after just 15 minutes.’” As always – you know your dog best. Trust your instincts. If you feel something is off, it probably is.
Pet owners who are diligent about brushing their dogs’ teeth may also notice additional tartar buildup on a broken tooth, given the newly rough surface. And if a break has led to an infection, swelling beneath the eye may also be evident, Dr. Sembler says.
What Should I Do If My Dog Breaks a Tooth?
If you suspect your dog is suffering from dental pain or discomfort, calling your primary veterinarian should always be step number one.
“They’ll need to assess a couple of things,” Dr. Sembler says. “First, they’ll want to check if the fracture is open – meaning, the pulp is exposed. That’s the red, spongy structure where the blood vessels and nerves are based. If not, your dog will still need to be evaluated – but it’s a little less complicated.”
Closed fractures, while less likely to become infected, should be radiographically evaluated under anesthesia in a few months, says Dr. Sembler.
“Approximately 25 percent of these fractured teeth will still die and can cause issues,” she says.
Open fractures should be addressed immediately, she adds, otherwise, the opening of the pulp could provide a pathway to infection, pain, and discomfort.
From there, two treatment options can then be discussed.
Extractions remove the problematic tooth in its entirety. The procedure is typically swift and painless, and there is no need for follow-up once the tooth has been removed. Recovery is typically a soft food diet and two weeks of rest without toys.
“Animals usually do very well with extractions,” Dr. Sembler says. “There’s also no drifting of the teeth like humans have, and there’s no collapsing of the arch. Your dog will simply shift whatever they used to use that tooth for over to the other side.”
For larger extractions – like canine teeth – extra care may be needed, due to the sheer size of the tooth.
“If a dog were to get something in its mouth, they risk opening up the extraction – and then they’d need to be put under again to fix it,” Dr. Sembler says.
Root canals, she notes, are a second treatment option. This safe and trusted procedure – the same one used for humans – maintains the functionality of the broken tooth, which is particularly beneficial for a dog’s canine teeth. Recovery is also much quicker, Dr. Sembler says, with dogs returning to their normal lives and habits within a few days.
Follow-up is required for root canals, which have a 96% success rate.
“There’s always that four percent that requires a little bit more evaluation,” Dr. Sembler says.
One Last Word on Prevention
Playing games with our dogs is great—for them, and us. But there’s one in particular that could have some unintended consequences.
“I would advise against human-on-animal tug-of-war, just because the pulling motion can kill a dog’s teeth,” Dr. Sembler says. “If you ever notice that one of your dog’s teeth is discolored – if it looks pink, purple, gray, or what is called dead white, you should get some imaging done, because that could be indicative of a dead tooth, as well, which would be treated as though it were an open fracture.”
Aside from that, the right toys, the right food, and due diligence are the best anyone can do. Daily brushing is your dog’s teeth’s best friend, says Dr. Sembler. “And we also recommend pets get an anesthetic cleaning with diagnostic imaging at least once a year.”
With caring parents and caring veterinarians at their side, your dog will have a big reason to smile.
For additional information on canine dentistry and beneficial products, Dr. Sembler recommends resources like the Veterinary Oral Health Council and the American Veterinary Dental College.
