Your dog’s teeth could be pulled out due to reasons such as having gum diseases, broken or fractured teeth, unerupted teeth, dental cavities, and more.
During this procedure, your dog might encounter several complications and side effects, but by providing proper care at home, your dog can recover completely.
When Do Dog’s Teeth Need To Be Pulled?
1. Periodontal Disease
2. Broken Tooth
3. Unerupted Tooth
4. Tooth Decay
1. Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, commonly referred to as gum disease, is perhaps the most common reason for vets to pull a dog’s tooth.
Periodontal disease in canines comprises four different stages, but the situation must progress to the third stage before tooth extraction is suggested.
It is because serious periodontitis destroys the teeth’ necessary functions.
When a tooth cannot recover after enough enamel and tooth tissue has already been damaged, then removal will be the only option. [1]
2. Broken Tooth
A fracture is yet another typical reason for removing a dog’s teeth.
It implies that even if a cracked tooth is normal, exposed roots may cause discomfort.
Broken tooth removal, on the other hand, may not be essential.
Extraction would be performed only when a shattered tooth and supporting gum tissues are harmful to health and unfixable.
The removal process for the big dog and their biting teeth includes dental surgery similar to extracting affected wisdom teeth in humans. [2]
Another cause for tooth extraction is to assist prevent trauma.
Traumatic occlusion is a disorder that occurs when teeth collide with one another or push into another gum tissue.
Did you Know?
A orthodontist will conduct root canal treatment to solve this.
3. Unerupted Tooth
Unerupted teeth, or fangs that stay underneath the gums, are recommended for extraction.
Teeth that appear to be in an improper location might fail to develop in breeds with shorter and flatheads.
Any regions from where crowns are lost must be X-rayed.
It’s critical to have these x-rays taken regularly since unerupted teeth can create cysts, which can damage a major portion of the jawline.
Any teeth that have not fully erupted and are creating issues must be removed.
Any canines with unerupted teeth must be spayed and neutered to prevent the problem from being transmitted to their pups.
It is common in brachycephalic (small-headed) dogs including the Maltese, pug, Pekingese, French bulldog, English bulldog, and Boston Terrier. [3] [4]
4. Tooth Decay
It is possible that your pet has dental caries when you’re worried about rotten teeth removal.
Fortunately, this issue affects just 10 percent of the total canines, and doctors can typically fix it by closing the hole, much like dentists can do for humans.
What is involved in Dog Tooth Extraction?
You might not even discover that your pooch has a damaged tooth before your upcoming vet check-up or dental test.
When a dog is in pain, it may exhibit no indications at all.
If something is wrong with your pet’s one or many teeth, then you might observe some indications like excessive drooling, scratching at the mouth, unwillingness to eat, sneezing, jaw enlargement, or foul breath. [5]
However, it will not be immediately noticeable.
If you observe some of these symptoms, you should rush your pet to the vet immediately for a complete check-up to see if he has a cracked tooth that needs to be treated.
Veterinarians perform the following procedures when they want to pull a dog’s teeth:
- Clean and examine all gums and teeth
- Take an X-ray of the damaged regions or the entire mouth
- Choose the right tooth or teeth for removal
- Use a local anesthetic to sedate the area
- Generate flaps in adjacent tissue carefully
- Drill a dental implant to remove the roots and tear down the tissues that connect them
- Clean up the area in between gums and teeth
- X-ray to confirm all pieces of the tissues have been extracted
- Stitch the gaps closed
If a vet discovers that your pup has a fractured tooth or another dental disease that involves thorough tooth extraction, then keeping your pet under anesthesia is the safest option so that your veterinarian may examine the condition more closely.
It may appear alarming at first, but this is the most effective approach for your veterinarian to examine your dog’s teeth and diagnose the condition.
Wide awake dogs are really not comfortable being touched, particularly when the doctor is seeking to get a complete look at a problematic part.
After your pet is sedated, your veterinarian may examine the shattered tooth closely to determine the severity of the problem.
The tooth might be fixed or replaced based on the intensity of the damage. [6]
Did you Know?
Dogs, unlike humans, are unable to avoid a fractured tooth.
How much is the Dog Tooth Extraction Cost?
Despite the fact that extracting or replacing the tooth is a very easy process, but the dog tooth replacement cost is extremely high.
According to your pet’s oral health and the difficulty of the tooth extraction, the cost per tooth might vary from $200 to $600, but it could go higher up to $859.
There are numerous factors that contribute to the high cost of these services. [7] [8]
First of all, both the initial evaluation and the treatment will require your pet to be placed under anesthesia.
It is costly, but it is very important.
Your vet will need complete access to the region in order to determine the extent of the injury and make the necessary repairs.
Your pooch is unable to withstand this procedure while awake.
X-rays, medications, and other therapies are among the additional expenditures connected with your dog’s abscessed tooth cost.
You might have to pay the fees of over $3,000 if your pet requires several extractions, additional teeth cleaning treatments, or if the removal is really complicated.
It will not be an affordable procedure; however, it is very necessary for your pup’s overall health. [9]
What is included in Before and After Teeth Extraction?
It is crucial to know the requirements about your dog’s before and aftercare in a tooth removal so you could keep your pooch as relaxed as possible.
Your veterinarian will do a complete overview and a physical and oral examination prior to the operation.
If your veterinarian suspects a fractured tooth or abscess, he could keep your pet under anesthesia for a more comprehensive examination. [10]
After the proper examination, X-rays would be taken, and the veterinarian would use these to evaluate the extent of the injury and the best treatment option.
Antibiotics might be given to your pet if removal is required to reduce the risk of contamination.
It would be a very traumatic visit for you and your dog. [11]
Your canine will require medical assistance following the surgery to guarantee that he recovers completely and to prevent the possibility of infection.
You will need to provide your pet medicines on a daily basis, and you will have to maintain bandages in his jaw to prevent bleeding.
It is essential to keep reminding yourself why it is necessary for the long-term, or else it could start to happen again in the future.
You might have to keep an eye out for indications of infection or after-effects like discomfort, bleeding, and face puffiness in the following weeks.
Your vet will strongly suggest for one follow-up appointment to monitor your pup’s development.
Did you Know?
It takes around 4 weeks for your pet to recover after the surgery.
How Long Does Dog Dental Surgery Take?
Incisor tooth extraction is not all treated similarly.
Every molar is different and has its own set of problems.
For instance, some weak teeth can be removed in one operation.
Other instances that may necessitate surgery could last an hour or more than that.
Dog Dental Surgery Complications
- Fractured Tooth Roots
- Displacement of Root Tips
- Hemorrhage
- Trauma to the Flap
- Trauma to Adjacent Teeth
- Fractured Alveolar Bone
- Iatrogenic Jaw Fractures
- Dehiscence
- Oronasal Fistulas
- Lip Entrapment
1. Fractured Tooth Roots
Unnecessary pressure including the use of removal tools before the tooth has been sufficiently lifted might result in root fracture.
Anatomic differences in the root system (– for example, hooked, twisted, or spherical roots) might make the root more prone to break during removal.
The pet’s mesial base of the mandibular front tooth seems to have a hole running all along the anterior part of the base in a coronal direction, making tooth removal more challenging.
Despite the vet’s best efforts, tooth roots occasionally shatter during dental surgery, requiring further surgery to retrieve the root tip.
2. Displacement of Root Tips
You might move a tooth tissue further into the mandibular canal, nose hole, or nasal sinus when trying to remove shattered root tips.
7 Root dislocation can be prevented by gently raising broken root tips with little apical pressure and eliminating tooth structure to allow access to the root.
The extraction of extra bone and thorough examination to locate the misplaced root tip typically makes it easier.
Prevent the mandibular neurovascular cord from entering while extracting root ends from the mandibular tract.
Due to the wide area and the possibility of dental fragment movement, retrieving roots from the nose cavity might be challenging.
These treatments are frequently outside the scope of a general practitioner’s expertise, thus a recommendation to a veterinary orthodontist for assessment is advised. [12]
Note: If a tooth part or root tip becomes displaced, it is best to extract it.
3. Hemorrhage
Excessive bleeding might occur at the removal point and also as a result of damage to arterial systems or surrounding tissues.
Direct closure of the arteries is typically not achievable if the bleeding occurs in the mandibular canals or nose area.
Hemorrhage may usually be stopped by directly applying pressure with the help of a wet gauze pad.
Whereas if bleeding is coming out from the alveolus, sealing the oral surgery location around it will place physical force on the bleeding region, causing a clot to develop.
The lacerated artery can be found to bind, electrocautery can be used, or a hemostatic substance can be used to reduce ongoing bleeding. [13] [14]
4. Trauma to the Flap
Breaking of the mucoperiosteal flap can occur as a consequence of the periosteal lift penetrating the flap throughout flap formation, the elevated bur damaging the flaps, an insufficiently shaped flap, or excessive stress on the tissue during the removal process.
Based on the scale and placement of the rip, it may be feasible to stitch it. Stitching the wound will, in most circumstances, result insufficient but slow healing time.
If the hole is big it may be necessary to cut the tissues around the opening and rebuild the flaps to guarantee painful closing. [15]
5. Trauma to Adjacent Teeth
During dissection, facial bone extraction, or displacement of the sick molar, teeth next to the dentin being extracted may be injured.
The tooth, which was once healthy but is now impacted, must be examined physically and radiographically.
The degree of the harm will decide the best therapy. [16]
6. Fractured Alveolar Bone
A portion of mandibular tooth structure could be eliminated with the pulled tooth when too much pressure is employed or if removal tools are being used even before the molar has been sufficiently raised.
Flatten the leftover bone and seal the dental surgery location if this happens.
After tooth removal, you may notice a tiny crack pattern in the buccal tooth structure or a broken piece of buccal tissue.
If the breakage is partial and also no loosened bone pieces are present, a diamond bur can be used to polish the hard spots of the crack. [17] [18]
Note: Before sealing the oral surgical site, remove any loosened bone pieces.
7. Iatrogenic Jaw Fractures
In companion animals, the jaw is most often broken after the removal of the jaw canine tooth or the jaw first molars in smaller dogs.
The major impact of the first tooth and canine tissues at their places in the jaw highlights the importance of thoughtful preparation when undergoing the extraction process and makes people aware of a possible reason for jaw fractures.
Existing gingival or dental illness, excessive pressure applied by the physician, or a mix of both would cause untreatable jaw fractures. [19]
8. Dehiscence
An absence of stress-free sealing at the dental surgery location is the most common cause of dehiscence.
Improper flap shape, sutures not held by bones, oral obstruction from canines facing the dental surgery region, and improper treatment planning of the extraction point is all reasons for tissue dehiscence (e.g., dog biting on tough items or scratching its mouth).
The development of a well-constructed, broad mucoperiosteal membrane and the relaxation of the tissues are the elements to a tension-free sealing. [20]
9. Oronasal Fistulas
Oronasal fistulas can exist already and are linked to the maxillary molar with advanced periodontitis.
Oronasal fistulas mainly occur in small-breed dogs as a result of severe periodontitis affecting the oral side of the upper canine teeth.
If a mucoperiosteal membrane had not been utilized to seal the removal region of recently removed upper canine teeth, an oronasal hole may be evident.
An oronasal hole can also be iatrogenic, resulting from the loss of a portion of tissue on the oral side of the roots with the dental crown during the surgery. [21]
10. Lip Entrapment
Lip entrapment is often found in felines and is a possible problem following upper dog canine teeth removal.
An infection can form when the mandible canine teeth come into touch with the top lip or sits along the edge of the top lip.
Lip entrapment could be prevented by giving careful attention to membrane placement during the removal of the upper canine teeth and without removing superfluous bone.
If the problem does not improve on its own, therapy is required.
Therapy options include coronal modification and endodontic therapy, as well as the removal of the maxillary canine teeth.
Did you Know?
Root canal should be avoided during lip entrapment.
How To Care For Your Dog After Tooth Extraction
- Rest Up
- Antibiotics & Pain Relievers
- Postoperative Check-Up
- Feeding Your Pet After Dental Surgery
- Check for Signs of Postoperative Complications
1. Rest Up
Following surgery, prepare a peaceful, hot, and safe environment for your dog to relax in.
It will aid in the healing time.
After a few hours, your companion will slowly recover from the anesthesia.
Your dog would most probably appear sleepy and have a poor appetite throughout this period.
You need to contact your vet immediately if he’s still sleepy, dizzy, or starving after 24 hours.
Note: It may take up to 48 hours for a complete recovery time.
2. Antibiotics & Pain Relievers
After the operation, your dog would be given pain medications to should be able to go home.
Before driving your dog home, examine the pain relief prescription with your veterinarian dental professional in-depth, and make sure to follow the directions on the prescription during home healthcare.
If your dog denies taking pain relief medications at home, contact your vet, and he will work with you to find an alternative. [22]
3. Postoperative Check-Up
Consult with your veterinarian dentist after your pet’s oral procedure to see whether he needs the following treatment check-up.
If your dog needs this, arrange a meeting with your vet for the following treatment check-up before going back home.
4. Feeding Your Pet After Dental Surgery
Before bringing your dog home, discuss post-operative meals with your veterinarian orthodontist.
The vet will usually require a modest food two hours following surgery.
Based on the operation, he might have to refrain from eating hard kibble and tough treats for several days till your pet has fully recovered.
Water could be used to wet kibble, or dried food could be provided.
Some canines may require a wet or moist meal for a specified period of time.
Encourage him to stay hydrated as fast as possible on a regular basis, since water is necessary for the recovery process. [23]
5. Check for Signs of Postoperative Complications
When your dog has managed to recover from anesthesia and is enjoying a (largely) regular diet, it’s essential to maintain a check on his recovery in case an emergency strikes.
Even if they’re in discomfort, pets typically express no indications of discomfort.
After the oral procedure, there are a few subtle indicators of discomfort to watch out for.
Contact your vet if your pet shows the following extraction complications symptoms:
- He can chew hard foods again, but he is not liking them
- Beloved chew toys have lost their charm
- Attempting to eat and dropping food
- When you stroke his face, he exhibits angry or unpleasant actions
- Bad breath
- He paws at his face or rubs it against furniture or the carpet
- Excessive drooling
- Face got swollen after tooth extraction
- Bleeding around the surgery area
- Eye drainage
- His eyes are puffy and swollen
Conclusion
After considering the current condition and the side effects that your dog might be facing, you can now understand its root cause and consult your vet to find a solution.
Pulling a dog’s teeth might sound like an easy task, but it can create complications for certain breeds or elder dogs.
With proper nutrition and after-surgery care at home, your dog will soon heal its wound or other infections at the surgery site.
References
