Broken tooth

Hello

Keena chipped one of her front teeth back in April this year...It is one of the small ones on the top at the front (Incisor I think) She did it on one of those horrible sterilized bones from the pet store with the filling inside...Needless to say they are a no go in our house ever since.

Anyway she chipped it down far enough to where I could see a sort of pinkish colouring, there was no blood though....Is this called the 'pulp' I don't think it was down to the nerve?

Well a short while after we took her to our vets who said just leave it and keep an eye on it...I wasn't really happy as I thought surely it would be painfull??...I have read that a broken tooth should never be left and in America have heard of having the tooth fixed in a similar way to how they do for people.

I think my vets said to leave it as they think the only options were to pull it which is quite a big deal I understand because the size of the root, which they and we did not want to do...Or just leave it!...I'm thinking they offered no alternative as they don't personally do any dentist work so it wasn't something they were bothered about

Anyway a few months down the line of keeping an eye on it and where it was nice and pink before it has changed colour I think, the tooth is still as white but the pink core looks off colour now....Will it mean that the tooth will eventually die and set up infection?? Or has the soft tissue just receeded up a little leaving what I am seeing a very small hole that isn't actually discoloured?

I have read how broken teeth will most likely lead to an infection if they are broken down far enough and how bad the infection can be so now I'm worried. Not sure if hers was broken that far down to be a problem though?

I still don't want her to have the tooth pulled if we can help it...What do you think the options are??...Do you think my vets should be able to forward us on to a practise that does dentistry or something?...Or is the tooth safe to leave still??

"If the fracture involves only the enamel, the tooth is not painful & no treatment is necessary. However, a break in the crown that extends into the dental pulp can be extremely painful, & the dog may become depressed & refuse to eat. Restorative dentistry or extraction of the tooth will be necessary to prevent an abscessed root" (Giffin & Carlson)

That probably doesn't tell you anything you do not already know If she has been chewing then, over the peiod of time, the tooth may have become worn down more, exposing the pulp. Does it seem to bother her at all? I would be inclined to get it looked at again by the vet, just in case there may be infection setting up. If you are not reassured by his diagnosis then you should ask for a referral to a dental specialist who can restore the tooth if necessary. I would imagine that if it is left too long, and infection is present, then extraction would be the only option

Thanks SB

The tooth doesn't seem to bother her...I regulary brush her teeth but have avoided going over this one just incase it hurts bad as I don't want to put her off getting the rest done and she does seem to want me to avoid the tooth when brushing...She eats fine though...

I don't know if she wore down the tooth since the break but I know it was initially a break or a chip as I heard a noise when she was chewing and went and looked in her mouth right away and that's when I saw the tooth.

Maybe the darker colour I am seeing now is where the pulp has receeded a bit and what I can see is the little pin ***** hole that is showing up a bit dark now?...

I have read that if a break occurs in a tooth in a dog under 18 months old it's not so good as they have not yet become sealed inside?...She was under 18 months as she is only that now.

Like you said...We will have to take her back to the vets and see what they say and if they don't suggest doing anything then I'll ask to have her refered to a practise that carries out regular dental work.

Thanks for your help SB

Just noticed that pin p-r-i-c-k was editited...lol...don't know what else to call it...lol