Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is an excellent option for fractured teeth in dogs and cats due to trauma. Whether the fracture was caused by chewing on a hard object, getting in a fight with another animal, or the cause is truly unknown.

Many teeth with dental fractures can receive root canal treatment. When a root canal is performed, the dental pulp inside the tooth is removed. The interior of the tooth is sterilized and filled with an inert material, and it is finished with a cavity filling on the surface. This helps to remove all bacteria from the inside of the tooth and seal it to prevent access from further bacteria in the future.

The tooth no longer has live pulp tissue, but the appearance, structure and function are all maintained.

The long-term success rate of root canal treatment is approximately 95% in dogs, and 88% in cats.

Following root canal treatment, placement of a metal crown may be recommended to improve the strength of the tooth for long term retention.