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Broken tooth? Ouch! Unfortunately, broken \u2013 or fractured – teeth in dogs and cats are common. But pets can\u2019t tell us when a tooth is fractured, which is why it\u2019s important for you to select safe chew toys and know when to consult with your family vet!<\/p>\n
![\"Dog](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/6-1.png\")
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The most common causes of fractured teeth in pets are from a trauma\/accident or from chewing on hard objects such as:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A<\/span> rule of <\/span>thumb is<\/span>:<\/span> if you <\/span>wouldn\u2019t<\/span> hit yourself in the kn<\/span>eecap<\/span> with i<\/span>t, <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span> give it to your dog to chew!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Many times, pet parents are unaware that <\/span>a<\/span> pet\u2019s tooth is broken until a veterinarian notices it or until it becomes so uncomfortable, <\/span>the <\/span>pet can no longer tolerate the pain.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Common signs of a painful broken tooth include:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Know that s<\/span>ometimes, with very stoic pets, there may be few or very subtle signs of pain<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your family veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary dentist <\/span>should<\/span> evaluate any broken teeth. After an awake oral exam, <\/span>your<\/span> pet is anesthetized so a veterinarian can perform a <\/span>mor<\/span>e<\/span> in-depth<\/span> oral exam, take <\/span>dental x-rays, and make recommendations for treatment.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A note on anesthesia:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Of course<\/span>,<\/span> it would be great if we could take dental x-rays while a pet is awake \u2013 but even the best<\/span>–<\/span>behaved dog or cat will not sit still with a<\/span>n<\/span> x-ray sensor inside their mouth and that tube to the side of their head! Therefore, anesthesia is necessary to <\/span>safely and accurately <\/span>perform<\/span> x-rays<\/span>. <\/span>A<\/span>t Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota, our Anesthesia team<\/span> consists of a board-certified veterinary anesthetist and<\/span> veterinary technician specialists in<\/span> anesthesia and analgesia. This team <\/span>determines<\/span> if <\/span>your pet is <\/span>a <\/span>good candidate<\/span> for anesthesia and then<\/span> tailor<\/span>s<\/span> an<\/span> anesthesia plan for <\/span>your pet.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Images from https:\/\/avdc.org\/.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n Your pet\u2019s treatment plan will depend on the type of fracture in your pet\u2019s tooth. A fracture is classified as either \u201cuncomplicated\u201d or \u201ccomplicated<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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<\/p>\nSigns<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nTreatment<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Uncomplicated vs. Complicated Fracture<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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