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Broken Teeth
A very common finding, broken teeth
are a very painful ond often untreated problem
for many dogs. Here's some help in understanding
what the problem is and what to do about it.
Lots of dogs have broken teeth. Often, the owners had no idea the tooth was broken, and the dog seemed fine. Sometimes the owners knew it was broken, but it had been broken for years and didn't seem to bother their dog any. We know that it it was our tooth, it would be painful, but many dogs with broken teeth do not seem to show any signs at all of pain.
Science tells us that our dog's teeth and nervous system are identical to ours. The teeth are put together in the same way, with a layer of ultra-hard enamel over a layer of softer dentin , all surrounding the pulp chamber which is full of nerves. If you have ever had the experience of having the dentist drill your tooth before the anesthetic took full effect, you will immediately appreciate the fact that teeth are a living bodypart with a very sensitive nerve supply.
So why don't many dogs show signs of pain?
The answer is complex. Click here for an article on Pets in Pain, which gives the long answer. The short answer is that nature has taught animals to hide their pain rather than show it. The signs of pain that they do show are often subtle, and are often not noticed by owners until after the source of pain is removed.
If your pet has a broken tooth, the best thing to do is have it removed. Your pet will feel better, and a source of chronic infection will be removed. Root Canal therapy is the only other option.
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