Missing Teeth

When a dog or cat is missing a tooth or teeth that have not been extracted, the absence of the tooth must be verified by intraoral imaging (x-rays and/or CT scan). If the intraoral imaging shows the tooth is present but is complete buried in the bone it is considered to be impacted. An impacted tooth has the potential to form a cyst (odontogenic cyst) resulting in bone loss. If a cyst develops, then extensive oral surgery is required to remove the impacted tooth and cyst lining.