25/05/2026
Root canal therapy is one of the most common procedures that we perform to salvage principal teeth. Sometimes, these teeth are obviously fractured, and other times - the signs are a lot more subtle!
Please meet two of our lovely patients, Summer and Willow, both of whom came through after their referring vets (Dr. Georgia @ Barkes Corner, and Dr. Shanaka @ Pet Doctors Flagstaff) noted painful, fractured teeth - in Summer, it was for assessment of a fractured canine tooth and fractured carnassial, and for Willow, for a fractured carnassial tooth, both of which were noted on the physical examination.
It was only on the anaesthetised examination that Dr. Crystal picked up additionally fractured molar teeth that were not obvious on the conscious oral examination. Both of these teeth had small oblique fractures off one of the cusps of the lower molar teeth that were facing inwards towards the tongue, with small pinpoint areas of pulp exposure.
These small fractures are enough to cause dramatic long standing root end infections, which may be only visible on radiographs. Summer's fracture had been present for some time, with tooth root abscesses already present.
Both of the procedures were staged, with Summer's molar tooth receiving an intermediate root canal to clear the infection at the base of the roots before the final obturation.
These cases are a good example why a thorough examination of each tooth and full mouth radiography is necessary to diagnose subtle or underlying pathology that may not have overt clinical signs.🌟
Fractures of the upper fourth premolar (a.k.a. maxillary carnassial) may often present with fractures of the associated mandibular first molar tooth (a.k.a. mandibular molar), due to the pattern of force applied on the teeth when chewing very hard substrates. The fracture of the upper tooth may be more clinically obvious than the lower molar, which may be more difficult to examine in an awake animal. 🦷🐕
Root canal therapy is an excellent alternative to extraction, and a great option for salvage of principle teeth like the large chewing teeth at the back of the mouth (upper fourth premolar and first mandibular molar) and the canine teeth. These teeth are termed principle teeth as they are the most structurally and functionally important teeth in our pets' mouths.
The treatment involves removal of all infected pulpal material, shaping and sterilisation of the canal, followed by a final fill with biocompatible materials and a hard-wearing composite restorative which is smoothed. 🤩👌
Loss of these teeth may alter how the animal chews, how rapidly periodontal disease develops on the side of the mouth where the teeth are removed, and may also change the facial structure.
These lovely dogs now have the opportunity to continue chewing normally and maintain these important teeth for the rest of their lives, all thanks to their dedicated owners. 🥰❤️
Summer and Willow, it has been wonderful looking after you and we look forward to seeing you at your follow up revisit! 😍🥰
