Guest gennygrey Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 My greyhound recently told me that he wanted out of his crate for good yesterday. While I was at work, he busted out of his crate and broke two teeth. One he popped out and the other we had pulled. His canine incisor is cracked and his nerve root is sticking out. My vet referred me to get my dog a root canal on the incisor and recontruction. But the problem is there are only 2 dog oral surgeons in my area and the earliest surgery is 8/4. I have had several people tell me that I should just have his incisor removed and that doing a root canal and recontruction is a waste of money. Any thoughts on this. Should he get the root canal and reconstruction or should he get the tooth pulled? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WarmheartedPups Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 with absolutely no knowledge of what is right or wrong.....I would have it pulled....just what I would personally do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3DogNite Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 My vote: Pull the teeth.... they get by just fine, might be sore and bleed a couple days,, but the kisses are still as sweet! Quote lorinda, mom to the ever revolving door of Foster greyhounds Always in my heart: Teala (LC Sweet Dream) , Pepton, Darbee-Do (Hey Barb) , Rascal (Abitta Rascal), Power (Beyond the Power), and the miracle boy LAZER (2/21/14), Spirit (Bitter Almonds) 8/14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest boondog Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I agree--have it pulled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytexplorer Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 from my own personal root canal experience----have it pulled! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JohnnyBell Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Pulled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Another vote to have it pulled. Oh yeh....we're still waiting for pictures of this handsome guy Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jbox Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I'd have it pulled to. Our Stitchy who has since passed only had 2 teeth and she ate just fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gennygrey Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Another vote to have it pulled. Oh yeh....we're still waiting for pictures of this handsome guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DoofBert Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 No experience with the root canals here.... but I know I'd opt to have the tooth pulled. Best wishes.... and speedy recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Another vote to have it pulled. Oh yeh....we're still waiting for pictures of this handsome guy What a handsome boy. Thank you for the pic. And don't let it be the last one Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest VanillaBean Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I would say to pull also! Gorgeous boy, BTW!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 If I understand right, the incisor is next to the canine? If so, and it's not the canine I'd pull it. Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greybookends Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Pull it. He'll never miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyTzu Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Pull. Quote Wendy and The Whole Wherd. American by birth, Southern by choice. "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!" ****OxyFresh Vendor ID is 180672239.**** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ArtysPeople Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 One of my meezers (the one who won't put up with tooth brushing) had over half of her teeth pulled in January, and you'd never know it. He won't even miss it once it's healed up. to the boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 Pull. If it were the canine, I may think twice...we'd have to have a discussion w/our vet about the pros/cons of waiting until 8/4 with an exposed root (Sounds ouchy!!) vs the risk of pulling a canine (hole in gums that never closes - not too bad, broken jaw - much worse). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fritofeet Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 Pull it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemandvm Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 If it is an incisor... have it pulled. If it is a canine tooth... do the root canal! Quote Bill Lady Bella and Sky at the bridge "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." -Anabele France Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamborine Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 One of Stephanie's bottom canines (the big pointy ones ) has the tip broken off - she came to me that way. It doesn't bother her, but it's getting darker grayish brown as time goes by. She has a "crooked-face" condition that causes both her bottom canines to protrude from her mouth, among other things. Anyway, not long ago I asked the vet what I should do about it: I'm afraid it could cause her trouble down the road. But the vet said the tooth is obviously dead and not causing pain, so just leave it. She said the canines stabilize the jaw - very important in Stephanie's case. Her jaw is extra-small, as are all the rest of her teeth. Her top teeth are almost non-existant. If Steph's canine were viable and she broke it now, I'd go for the root canal. Same with my other 2 dogs, for that matter! Quote Maryann, Bama (TW Beltram), Stephanie (Tom's Stepinhi) & Henderson the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 If it is an incisor... have it pulled. If it is a canine tooth... do the root canal! Dr Feeman, would you mind posting why the root canal and not pulling the tooth. I think I know the importance of a canine but I'm sure there's much more to it than what I "think" I know. Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemandvm Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 The canine teeth are BIG teeth and the extractions are invassive and can have complications. Extractions for lower canine teeth should only be performed if no other treatment options exist. The root of the tooth (the part below the gum) is actually larger than the crown of the tooth (the part you can see). The strength of the mandible (lower jaw bone) is signficantly effected by the extraction of a lower canine tooth and runs a higher risk of fracture. The upper canine tooth is in the maxilla (upper jaw bone) and extraction does not put the maxilla at risk of fracture but proper extraction entails a reasonablely large incision, folding the gum back, drilling away bone, elevating the tooth out and then suturing. Extraction is more invassive, more difficult and more painful for upper or lower. The Greyhound I rescued last summer had 10 teeth in her mouth but 0 healthy teeth. I pulled 8 of them (including her 2 upper canine teeth which were too diseased to save by root canal) but ended up taking her to a dental specialist to get her bottom canine teeth saved as they ended up being shaved down and received root canals. I've extracted lower canines before and never had a problem but I really try to only do it as a last resort. Quote Bill Lady Bella and Sky at the bridge "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." -Anabele France Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 The canine teeth are BIG teeth and the extractions are invassive and can have complications. Extractions for lower canine teeth should only be performed if no other treatment options exist. The root of the tooth (the part below the gum) is actually larger than the crown of the tooth (the part you can see). The strength of the mandible (lower jaw bone) is signficantly effected by the extraction of a lower canine tooth and runs a higher risk of fracture. The upper canine tooth is in the maxilla (upper jaw bone) and extraction does not put the maxilla at risk of fracture but proper extraction entails a reasonablely large incision, folding the gum back, drilling away bone, elevating the tooth out and then suturing. Extraction is more invassive, more difficult and more painful for upper or lower. The Greyhound I rescued last summer had 10 teeth in her mouth but 0 healthy teeth. I pulled 8 of them (including her 2 upper canine teeth which were too diseased to save by root canal) but ended up taking her to a dental specialist to get her bottom canine teeth saved as they ended up being shaved down and received root canals. I've extracted lower canines before and never had a problem but I really try to only do it as a last resort. Thank you very much! Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Snowy8 Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Claudia, Dr. Freeman gives excellent advise. My vet Gerald Blackburn in Memphis has left all 4 of Gabby's canines in...instead of cleaning them with a hard instrument, he gently brushes them & advises me to do the same. Her mouth was in such horrible shape coming into the adoption kennel...when I got her, she lost a lot of teefies. So I brush her teefies as easily as I can and sometimes I just swab her mouth out with a Q-tip. I get dirty looks from her too.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximum Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Max apparently was a crate chewer and came to use with very bad teeth, including wear down to the roots on his top canines. For the reasons. Dr. Feeman outlines above, the canine oral surgeon in the area also advised root canals. We did them 6 years ago, and over that time, Max has lost almost all of the rest of his teeth but his canines are holding up beautifully! His bottom two *may* need to be done at some time - he is 10 now and the surgeon doesn't want to put him under much more. Next time, he will likely get the remaining 12 or so teeth pulled and root canals on the bottom two canines. Quote My boys, together again... A hui hou kakou, my loves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.