80% of dogs have dental problems before reaching the age of three, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS). While many think it’s simply a cosmetic problem, dental diseases can also be painful and serious for dogs, requiring a vet visit. In some cases, many owners don’t know when they’re in pain because they don’t show it, especially if it’s due to the pain that requires tooth extraction.
You may only know they have dental pain after a vet exam or when vets use a dental probe to apply pressure around their tooth’s roots. Visit here to read more about pet teeth cleaning and exams, FAQs about dental care, and comprehensive dental care for dogs.
Signs of Potential Dog Dental Pain
There are times when dogs also give their owners warning signs if they’re hurting because of dental issues.
- Reduced interest in eating dry food
- Lost or reduced interest in hard treats
- Chewing more slowly than usual
- Often dropping food from the mouth while chewing
- Excessive drooling
- Pawing at the mouth
- Sudden or worsening resistance to having the face/mouth touched
- Bad breath
- Visible loose teeth
- Muzzle swelling
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When Does a Dog Need a Tooth Extraction?
1. Periodontal Disease
Also called gum disease, periodontal disease is one of the reasons why your vet needs to pull out your dog’s teeth. It has four stages, and your vet recommends a tooth extraction when it advances to stage three or moderate periodontitis. In this phase, 50% of tooth support loss occurs.
A dog’s tooth cannot heal once its bone and gum tissues are destroyed, so why tooth extraction is the only option.
2. Tooth Decay
Although it’s rare and affects only 10% of dogs, rotten teeth can still happen in your pets, and the main reason is cavities, just like humans. Almost all general practicing veterinarians can treat tooth decay. But make sure that they perform dental X-rays first since it’s the only way to find out the most painful problems in your dog’s mouth.
3. Unerupted or Impacted Teeth
Unerupted teeth remain under the gum line, which usually occurs in brachycephalic breeds or “small-headed” breeds, such as English bulldog, Maltese, Pekinese, Pug, Boston terrier, and French bulldog. If an unerupted tooth is discovered at an early age (ideally before one year), your vet can perform surgery on the gum to help encourage tooth eruption.
However, surgical exploration or extraction are recommended for pets aged more than a year since the tooth will not erupt. If you don’t have their impacted teeth removed, it can contribute to dentigerous cyst formation, growing very large and causing damage to other teeth and the surrounding bone. Surgical removal treatment of the unerupted tooth and cystic lining is involved in the case of cysts.
4. Broken Tooth
Your vet can have your dog’s tooth pulled if there is a fracture. Even if a pet’s fractured tooth looks healthy, it can still cause pain because of exposed nerves. However, they may perform root canal therapy to correct the problem instead of tooth extraction.
They may also remove your dog’s teeth to eliminate trauma, called traumatic occlusion. This condition is caused by teeth hitting other teeth or digging into the gum tissues.
It’s crucial to work with specialists, like Miller Clark Animal Hospital, to ensure 100% of your pet’s health. Note that there are veterinarians who have undergone years of advanced training and passed specific certifications to become specialists in their chosen recognized field of study in veterinary medicine.
