Question: My Dog's Teeth Are Worn Down. Should I Be Concerned?
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?
Answer: Worn teeth are usually darker
in color, oddly shaped, 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 incisors are the
"fang" teeth.
How are teeth worn down?
Teeth wear down by rubbing on each
other (a malocclusion or "bad bite") or 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 does this occur?
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 preform an
endodontic treatment, also known as a root canal, just like in humans.
Getting to the root of the problem
If the teeth are very worn,
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 not vital on the
inside. This could could cause problems later on.
Additional information and excellent photos of worn teeth in a dog:
American Veterinary Dental Society - Worn Teeth