My pet has a broken tooth, but still eats fine and acts normally. Why does she need root canal treatment?
When the nerves and blood vessels (pulp tissue) inside the tooth are exposed, bacteria in the mouth invade the pulp tissue, and the pulp eventually dies. In addition to the discomfort of an exposed nerve, your pet will ultimately endure a process of inflammation and bone destruction around the root tip, which results from the bodys response to the invading bacteria and pulp necrosis. In severe cases, the infection can lead to disease in vital organ systems, such as the heart, liver and kidneys. While extracting a broken tooth will solve the problem, root canal treatment allows us to preserve the tooth. By removing the necrotic debris and bacteria from the inside of the tooth, root canal treatment stops the destruction of bone around the root tip and allows healing to occur. Your pet has the benefit of maintaining a functional tooth without the high risk of infection and prolonged discomfort which may occur without treatment.
When the nerves and blood vessels (pulp tissue) inside the tooth are exposed, bacteria in the mouth invade the pulp tissue, and the pulp eventually dies. This is called pulp necrosis. In addition to the discomfort of an exposed nerve, your pet will ultimately endure a process of inflammation and bone destruction around the root tip, which results from the bodys response to the invading bacteria and pulp necrosis. In severe cases, the infection can lead to disease in vital organ systems, such as the heart, liver and kidneys. While extracting a broken tooth will solve the problem, root canal treatment allows us to preserve the tooth. By removing the necrotic debris and bacteria from the inside of the tooth, root canal treatment stops the destruction of bone around the root tip and allows healing to occur. Your pet has the benefit of maintaining a functional tooth without the high risk of infection and prolonged discomfort which may occur without treatment.
