Broken Tooth

poohlp · 10-08-2007, 08:00 PM

I was looking at Percy today and noticed that his back top right molar looked funny. I took a closer look and touched it and the front of the tooth moved

It seems like the front is coming away from the back. I'm so upset.

Percy has such pretty, strong teeth and they are really white and clean.

l'll be taking him to the vet tomorrow morning to get him checked out and to get his yearly jabs. I guess they'll probably pull the tooth. I can't imagine they do caps for dogs. Anyone have any experience with this? Is it a problem for dogs to not have that big old tooth in the back?

Poor Percy. He just wants to tug, but I won't let him until we get this taken care of.

poohlp · 10-09-2007, 10:24 AM

Well, we went to the vet and Percy has to have surgery to have the tooth removed. Apparently, he broke the tooth all the way down its length so the root canal is exposed.

He's having the surgery today so think good thoughts for him!

Lightwingcreations · 10-09-2007, 11:01 AM

I'm sorry Percy has a broken tooth. It sounds like he has a slab fracture, which usually entails extraction. They do have vets that specialize in dentistry that could do a root canal and crown, but in the case of slab fractures, it usually can not be done. It's good that you caught it and he doesn't (hopefully) have any infection setting up in the pulp cavity, that can get nasty and painful. Hope you get to keep the extracted tooth, they're cool to see with the root attached. Keeping my thoughts with Percy!

tsorcus · 10-09-2007, 01:05 PM

As I said in your thread in the picture forum, Jasper had to have his tooth out too - it sounds like the same one - the big one in the back. They did manage to cut it in half, so only the front half is gone and he still has a bit in the back. What I was worried about was that it would stop him from chewing properly on that side and that his lower tooth would maybe get more plaque build up as a result, but it's just the same as the rest.

It hasn't stopped him from chewing or anything else - he's been without it for about 4 months now and never missed it, so I'm sure that your Percy will be fine.

Let us know how he gets on - I know it's an awful feeling having to leave them at the vets!

And I'd love to know, just out of interest how much they charge you - Jasper's extraction came to 120 Euro including antibiotics and pain meds.

poohlp · 10-09-2007, 02:04 PM

Sure, I'll let you know. They said because of the way it was broken, along the length of the tooth, there is no saving any of it, so the whole thing has to come out. The vet said that once the sutures heal, he will develop a callus over the gum that he will be ale to gnaw against. Plus he will still have his other 3 big molars and the other back molars. Of course, he may not have the iron lock down jaw he has now, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing I suppose.

They're knocking him out to have the surgery. The only good thing is I noticed this right before he was due for his shots so they are going to give him those and trim his toe nails while he is under anesthesia.

I felt so bad leaving him, he always looks so sad and pathetic when I leave him anywhere, especially the vet's. Then I got in my car and started to drive off and had that momentary pang that there is an infinitesimally small chance that something could go wrong while under anesthesia. Then I felt bad for not giving him a big enough hug.

Rationally, I know he'll be fine but still......I can't wait for the vet to call and say everything went fine.

tsorcus · 10-09-2007, 05:14 PM

I'm sure that Percy will be fine, he looks young and strong.
The vet advised me not to look in Jasper's mouth for a week or so after the tooth came out as it would look awful, but it wasn't so bad.

When I came to collect Jasper from the vet after having his tooth out he was in such a hurry to get out of there he didn't even stop to say hello to me! I think he was dying to pee though...

poohlp · 10-09-2007, 05:57 PM

Well, I got Percy and he is doing fine. He is a little annoyed with me that I won't let him drink 8 gallons of water, and a little woozy still, but I let him up on the couch (usually a no-no) and he is doing pretty well.

The whole visit was $311, which was shocking because I thought it would be much more. In addition to the surgery itself, the cost included his annual shots and heart worm/fecal tests and his take home meds (antibiotics and pain meds).