Restorations (Prosthodontics)

Two options are available for the restoration of a dog tooth depending on the cause and extent of the area requiring restoration.

Composite restorations are used for caries and enamel defects.  Caries or cavities are an uncommon occurrence in dogs, usually affecting the teeth in the back of the mouth.  Decayed tooth material can be removed and the defect is restored when caught early.  The process is similar to that in human dentistry.  Cats do not generally develop caries.  Instead they can develop tooth resorption.  Resorbing teeth in cats are generally not restored, as the resorption process will continue despite restoration.  The treatment of choice for these teeth is extraction.

Full metal crowns are implemented following root canal therapy or in cases of excessive wear of the tooth. Metal crown restorations are used to increase the stability of the tooth structure. The material of choice for full metal dog tooth restoration is titanium.