This FAQ looks at a common problem, especially for dogs: worn down teeth. What causes teeth to wear, and what should you do about worn-down teeth in your pet?
Worn teeth are usually darker in color, oddly shaped, and/or worn down to the gum line. The teeth most commonly affected are the incisors and canine teeth—the incisors are the small teeth in the front of the mouth, and the canines are the fang teeth.
How Teeth Are Worn Down
Teeth wear down by rubbing on each other (a malocclusion or bad bite), by the pet chewing on their fur and skin (as in the case of itchy allergies), or by the pet chewing on items (pet toys, bones, sticks, rocks, etc.).
How Quickly This Occurs
This change usually occurs gradually, and the tooth responds by laying down additional dentin to harden the injured area. In these cases, the teeth are normally left alone unless they are painful or the gum is infected.
Urgent Concerns
In the case of sudden wear or a fracture of the tooth caused by chewing, your pet should be examined by your veterinarian immediately. Depending on the nature and extent of the tooth injury, your vet may elect to extract the tooth or perform an endodontic treatment, also known as a root canal.
Getting to the Root of the Problem
If most cases your veterinarian may want to do dental radiographs even if your pet is not showing signs of infection or discomfort. Radiographs will rule out a dead tooth that appears fine on the outside but is not vital on the inside which could cause problems later on. It will also rule out exposure of the pulp of the tooth which may cause pain which your pet is hiding as signs fo dental pain in dogs can be very subtle.