Hometown Animal Hospital

Feline Broken Teeth

Tooth Fracture
A tooth fracture of the enamel and dentin not involving the pulp (nerve).

Crow-Root Fracture
Crown-root fractures occur when a large portion of the side of a tooth fractures extending to the root. There are two types of crown-root fracture: complicated fractures, where the pulp is exposed; and uncomplicated, where it is not.

Complicated crown-root fracture
Cat’s teeth affected by crown root fractures should be treated with root canal therapy or removal of the tooth.

Root Fracture
Occurs from a traumatic incident commonly resulting in a mobile tooth. In most cases the fractured crown and root are surgically extracted to prevent future pain.

Wear
Long term rubbing of one tooth against another (attrition) or against an outside surface (abrasion) can result in decreased crown height. X-rays are needed to determine if there is damage below the gum line necessitating treatment.

Pulpitis
An inflammation of the inside of the tooth (pulp) resulting in inflammation and swelling. Commonly the affected tooth becomes discolored. Pain and pulpal death soon occurs. Treatment of pulpitis is root canal therapy or extraction.