Endodontic Treatment Options
Root Canal Therapy
Pulp exposure is very painful and if left untreated may lead to an abscessed tooth. Dog and cat root canal (endodontic) therapy is the treatment of choice to preserve a fractured tooth with pulp (nerve) exposure longer than 24 hours. Root canal therapy involves removal of the diseased pulp, sterilizing the canal, sealing the canal, and filling it with an inert material. Finally, a restoration that is tooth colored is placed in the initial fracture or access site. Prior to treatment, intraoral imaging is performed to determine if the fractured tooth is a good candidate for root canal therapy. If not, then the tooth should be extracted. A full metal crown may be placed on the tooth for further protection. Titanium is the preferred material used for full metal crowns.
Vital Pulp Therapy
In a recent tooth fracture with pulp exposure that is less than 24 hours old, vital pulp therapy may be implemented to preserve the tooth. There is an exception for the 24-hour rule based on the age of the patient. Vital pulp therapy differs from dog and cat root canal therapy in that only 6-8 mm of the pulp tissue is removed followed by placement of a pulp preserving material. The goal of vital pulp therapy is to maintain tooth vitality. Similar to root canal therapy, a final tooth colored restoration is placed in the fracture site.
Contact
1012 Rondale Court. O’Fallon, MO 63368