Three fractured canine teeth in a young cat: endodontic treatment and restoration
After trauma, one tooth had to be extracted, while two others were saved with root canal treatment and crown restoration.
The owners presented after their young, active cat had an unfortunate fall and injured three canine teeth at once.
At another clinic, one of the options offered was extraction of the damaged teeth. The owner wanted to preserve as many functional teeth as possible, so we first held an online consultation and discussed the necessary diagnostics and possible treatment options.
One canine tooth was fractured almost completely, leaving a root in the jaw that needed to be extracted. The other two canine teeth had crown fractures. After clinical assessment and dental radiography, the decision was made to perform endodontic treatment and restore the crown portion of these teeth.
- Young cat
- Trauma
- Three fractured canine teeth
- Full-mouth dental radiography
- Endodontic treatment
- Restoration of two teeth
- Day 10 recheck
- Patient
- Young, active cat.
- Presenting complaint
- Trauma from a fall with fractures of three canine teeth.
- Prior recommendation
- At another clinic, the owners were offered extraction of the damaged teeth.
- Diagnostics
- Examination under anesthesia, full-mouth dental radiography, and assessment of each traumatized tooth.
- Treatment
- Extraction of the retained root of one canine tooth, endodontic treatment of the other two canine teeth, and restoration of their crowns.
- Additional care
- Professional dental cleaning using ultrasonic scaling, AirPolishing, and final polishing.
- Follow-up
- Recheck examination on day 10.
This video contains footage from a dental treatment procedure. The content may be sensitive for some viewers.
Presenting complaint
The owners presented after their young and very active cat had an unfortunate fall and fractured three canine teeth at once.
At another clinic, they had been offered extraction of the damaged teeth. The owner wanted an additional assessment of whether the canine teeth could be saved, so she sought a specialized dental consultation.
Saving a tooth is not always possible and should not be a goal in itself. However, the decision to extract or treat should be made separately for each tooth after clinical assessment and dental radiography.
What happened to the teeth
As a result of the trauma, three canine teeth were damaged.
One of them was fractured almost completely: the crown portion was lost, and a root remained in the jaw.
The other two canine teeth had crown fractures. Visual examination alone was not enough to determine:
- The depth of the injury
- The condition of the pulp
- The integrity of the roots
- The condition of the bone around the teeth
- The feasibility of predictable endodontic treatment
- Whether saving each tooth was advisable
This is exactly why the final plan was not formulated based on a photograph or the outward appearance of the teeth alone.
Is every chipped tooth equally dangerous
Tooth fractures vary in depth and in the tissues involved.
A minor defect limited to enamel alone is not the same as a fracture with exposed dentin or an open pulp.
If dentin is exposed, the tooth requires clinical evaluation, since dentinal tubules create a connection with the pulp-dentin complex.
If the fracture involves exposure or irreversible damage to the pulp, the tooth cannot be left untreated. In such cases, depending on the tooth's age, the time elapsed since the injury, the condition of the root, and the radiographic findings, endodontic treatment, vital pulp therapy, or extraction is considered.
In this clinical case, based on a complete diagnostic workup, two canine teeth were indicated for endodontic treatment followed by restoration of the crown portion.
Preliminary online consultation
A preliminary online consultation was held before the procedure.
During it, we discussed the clinical situation, the need for a complete diagnostic workup under anesthesia, the role of dental radiography, and the possible treatment options depending on the final findings.
An online consultation does not replace an examination under anesthesia and does not allow a final decision on saving or extracting each tooth. It helps owners understand the diagnostic logic and prepare for the procedure.
What treatment options were discussed
During the consultation, various scenarios were considered — from extraction to attempting to save individual teeth.
It is important to emphasize that a recommendation for extraction at another clinic does not automatically mean an incorrect approach. Without complete clinical and radiographic data, it is impossible to say which specific plan would have been the only correct one at that time.
The goal of a specialized consultation is not to "save teeth at any cost," but to determine a justified approach for each traumatized tooth.
Diagnostics during the COHAT
Treatment was carried out as part of a comprehensive dental procedure under controlled general anesthesia.
During the procedure, a complete oral examination, assessment of each traumatized tooth, professional dental cleaning, and full-mouth dental radiography were performed.
- Complete oral examination under anesthesia
- Assessment of each traumatized canine tooth
- Full-mouth dental radiography
- Professional dental cleaning
- Formulating a treatment plan based on diagnostic findings
Dental radiographic assessment
Dental radiography was necessary to rule out root fractures, assess the condition of the surrounding bone, and determine whether predictable preservation of the teeth with crown fractures was possible.
Without radiographs, it is not possible to reliably distinguish a situation where a tooth can be treated endodontically from a case where preservation is not clinically justified.
It was the combination of clinical and radiographic data that led to the final plan for each canine tooth individually.
The decision for each tooth
One canine tooth was fractured almost completely: the crown portion was lost, and a root remained in the jaw. For this tooth, preservation was not a realistic option — the retained root required extraction.
The other two canine teeth had crown fractures. After clinical and radiographic assessment, they were indicated for endodontic treatment followed by restoration of the crown portion.
In this way, a single patient combined different approaches: extraction where preservation was not possible, and endodontic treatment where it was clinically justified.
Extraction of the retained root
The retained root of the severely damaged canine tooth was extracted.
After extraction, the site was managed and sutured according to the clinical situation.
Monitoring the healing of this area was one of the key tasks of the early postoperative period.
Endodontic treatment of two canine teeth
The two canine teeth with crown fractures were treated endodontically.
The goal of endodontic treatment in this case was to eliminate the source of intracanal pathology and create conditions for preserving a functional tooth.
Indications for endodontics were determined individually for each tooth after clinical assessment and dental radiography. Endodontic treatment is not a universal solution for every fractured tooth.
Crown restoration
After endodontic treatment, the crown portion of both teeth was restored.
Restoration helps restore the shape of the tooth and protect the treated tissue.
The final appearance and extent of the restoration are determined by the clinical situation of the specific tooth.
Professional dental cleaning
As part of the procedure, professional removal of hard dental deposits with an ultrasonic scaler, removal of residual plaque with AirPolishing/AirFlow, and final polishing of the enamel surfaces were also performed.
Professional cleaning is part of a comprehensive approach to oral health and helps reduce the bacterial load on periodontal tissue.
Postoperative care
After the procedure, pain management, recommendations for caring for the extraction site and sutures, and a further individualized home oral care plan were provided.
Home care was introduced in stages, taking into account healing after the surgical procedure.
Recheck examination on day 10
A follow-up examination was performed on day 10 after the procedure.
The extraction site and mucosa were healing well.
There were no postoperative complications at the time of the recheck.
Further home oral care was also discussed.
Long-term monitoring
The day-10 examination mainly assesses early healing, particularly of the extraction site and sutures.
It is not confirmation of the long-term success of the endodontic treatment.
Endodontically treated teeth require separate clinical and radiographic monitoring under an individualized plan.
The timing of further follow-up dental radiographs is determined individually and is not stated in general terms without the patient's record.
Key takeaway
This case shows how, within a single traumatic event, the decision for different teeth can differ.
- One canine tooth could not be saved — the retained root was extracted
- The other two canine teeth were indicated for endodontic treatment and restoration
- Dental radiography was key to ruling out root fractures and formulating the plan
- The early day-10 recheck assesses healing, not long-term endodontic prognosis
Not every fractured tooth needs to be automatically extracted. And not every fractured tooth can be saved.
A justified decision is made separately for each tooth after clinical assessment and dental radiography.
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Need a dental consultation?
During a consultation, we can discuss dental trauma, diagnostic options, and possible treatment approaches. The final decision on saving or extracting each tooth is made after clinical assessment and dental radiography under anesthesia.
Every clinical case is individual. Diagnostic and treatment approaches are determined after examining the specific patient and reviewing dental radiographs. The day-10 recheck does not confirm the long-term success of endodontic treatment.