Zirconia Crown on an Endodontically Treated Canine Tooth in a Basenji
After the crown restoration was damaged again, the tooth was protected with a custom-made full crown.
The owners of a 7-year-old Basenji sought care after repeated damage to a previously treated canine tooth.
The tooth had originally sustained a complicated fracture and required endodontic treatment. After root canal treatment, the crown portion of the tooth was restored with restorative material.
Later, during training with a dog handler, the dog injured the tooth again — this time the crown restoration fractured. Since the root and supporting tissues allowed for continued retention of the tooth, it was recommended to protect the remaining tooth structure with a custom-made zirconia crown.
- Basenji
- 7 years
- Canine tooth
- Prior endodontic treatment
- Repeat trauma
- Zirconia crown
- Recheck at 3 months
- Patient
- Basenji, 7 years old.
- Tooth history
- Complicated fracture of the canine tooth, previously treated with endodontic therapy and restoration of the crown portion.
- Reason for the repeat visit
- During training, the dog injured the tooth again and fractured the previous crown restoration.
- Main risk
- Repeated mechanical loading on a tooth with a reduced volume of its own crown structure.
- Treatment plan
- Fabrication of a custom full zirconia crown.
- Stages
- Impression taking, laboratory fabrication, try-in, assessment of occlusal contacts, and crown cementation.
- Recheck
- Follow-up examination at 3 months.
- Result
- The crown remained stable, the visible tissues around the tooth looked satisfactory, and there were no complaints.
The video contains footage from a dental procedure. Some viewers may find this content sensitive.
Tooth History
This 7-year-old Basenji had previously sustained a complicated fracture of the canine tooth with pulp exposure.
To preserve a functional tooth, root canal treatment was performed along with restoration of the damaged crown portion using restorative material.
After treatment, the tooth remained functional.
Reason for the Repeat Visit
Later, during training with a dog handler, the dog injured this canine tooth again.
As a result of the repeated mechanical load, the previous crown restoration — which owners often call a "filling" — fractured.
The tooth itself already had a reduced volume of its own tissue due to the original fracture, the endodontic access, and the prior restoration.
At the same time, the dog is very active and sometimes likes to chew on or firmly hold various objects, which places additional load on the canine teeth.
After the complicated fracture and endodontic treatment, the tooth already had a reduced volume of its own crown structure. Combined with an active lifestyle and repeated mechanical loading, this increased the risk of further damage to the restoration or the remaining tooth structure.
Does a Repeat Fracture Mean the Tooth Must Be Extracted
No, not necessarily.
The decision depends on:
- The condition of the root
- The quality of the prior endodontic treatment
- The amount of remaining tooth structure
- Periodontal status
- Whether a new crack or fracture is present
- The feasibility of predictably restoring the crown portion
- The functional load on the tooth
In this case, after assessing the tooth, the decision was made to continue preserving it and to protect the remaining tissue with a full crown.
Why the Previous Restoration Was Not Enough
A composite restoration can repair a defect in the crown portion of a tooth.
However, with a significant loss of tissue and substantial mechanical loading, an exposed restoration can be damaged again.
In this patient, the previous restoration fractured after a new injury.
Therefore, to further protect the tooth, a restoration covering the entire prepared crown portion was chosen.
Does a Tooth Become Fragile After Endodontic Treatment
It is inaccurate to explain this simply by saying that after root canal treatment the tooth "has no nerve."
Tooth resilience is influenced by:
- The amount of tissue lost during the original injury
- The depth of the fracture
- The size of the endodontic access
- Prior restorations
- Repeat injuries
- The direction and force of functional loading
- The animal's habit of chewing on or holding hard objects
In this case, the significant prior damage to the tooth and the repeated mechanical loading were important factors.
This is why the remaining tooth structure required additional protection.
What a Full Dental Crown Is
A full crown is a custom-made prosthetic restoration that covers the tip and all surfaces of the prepared crown portion of a tooth.
Its purpose is not to replace the root or create a new tooth, but to protect and restore the remaining portion of the natural tooth.
A crown can help:
- Protect weakened crown structure
- Reduce direct load on a local restoration
- Distribute functional forces
- Restore tooth shape
- Preserve tooth function
A crown does not make a tooth invulnerable to new injuries.
A dog's canine tooth is used primarily for grasping, holding, and carrying objects, as well as in defensive and play behaviors — not as a primary "chewing" tooth in the human sense.
Why a Zirconia Crown Was Chosen
A custom zirconia crown was fabricated for this patient. The material and design were chosen based on the condition of the tooth, its function, and the expected load.
Factors considered included:
- The condition of the remaining tooth structure
- The tooth's position
- Its functional role
- The expected mechanical load
- The feasibility of precise laboratory fabrication
There is no single material that automatically suits every dental patient.
The type of crown is chosen individually.
Impression Taking and Crown Fabrication
An impression of the tooth and surrounding structures was taken to fabricate the custom restoration.
Using the impression, a dental technician fabricated a zirconia crown adapted to the shape of the specific tooth and the patient's occlusion.
Crown Try-In
Before final cementation, the crown was tried in.
During the try-in, it is important to assess:
- Fit of the shape
- Marginal adaptation
- Stability of the restoration
- Contact with adjacent teeth
- Assessment of occlusal contacts
- Interaction with the opposing teeth
- Absence of unwanted traumatic contact
Only after clinical assessment can the crown be permanently cemented.
Crown Cementation
After try-in and assessment of the occlusal contacts, the crown was cemented onto the prepared tooth.
The primary goal was to seal and protect the remaining canine tooth structure and keep the tooth functional.
Recheck at Three Months
A recheck examination was performed after three months.
The crown remained in place and appeared clinically stable.
The visible tissues around the tooth looked satisfactory, the dog was doing well, and the owners reported no complaints related to the treated tooth.
This is a good early clinical outcome, but it does not prove lifelong stability of the crown or the endodontically treated tooth.
Further Monitoring
An endodontically treated tooth with a crown requires periodic monitoring.
During further examinations, the following are assessed:
- Crown stability
- The condition of its margins
- The condition of the gingiva around the tooth
- The presence of any damage
- Functional contact
- The condition of the root and surrounding bone using dental radiographs per an individualized plan
Key Takeaway
Endodontic treatment made it possible to preserve the canine tooth after the original complicated fracture.
When the previous crown restoration fractured due to a repeat injury, it did not mean the tooth necessarily had to be extracted.
After assessing the feasibility of continued preservation, the tooth was protected with a custom-made zirconia crown.
This case shows that treating an injured tooth can involve several sequential stages:
- Root canal treatment
- Restoration of lost tissue
- Protection of the crown portion
- Monitoring of functional load
- Long-term follow-up
The goal of a crown is not to make a tooth unbreakable, but to help preserve its own tissue and function for as long as clinically possible.
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Has your dog's tooth broken or been damaged again?
During a consultation, the visible part of the tooth can be assessed, prior treatment discussed, and a further diagnostic plan determined. The feasibility of preserving the tooth is assessed individually based on clinical and radiographic findings.
Every clinical case is individual. The feasibility of placing a crown depends on the condition of the root and periodontium, the amount of preserved tissue, the quality of prior treatment, and the functional load on the tooth.