Chountala C. DVM, intern in veterinary dentistry, Companion Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | Papadimitriou S. Professor, Companion Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Introduction
The aim of this study was the clinical presentation of tooth fractures, their causes, the rate of occurrence of each tooth type and the treatment for each case. Tooth fractures in small animals are common, with a prevalence of 20-27%. Their causes are traumatic (injuries from accidentsand chewing inappropriate objects).
Case Reports
In this study, 93 cases of dogs and cats with tooth fractures were retrived from the Clinic's records between 2018-2023. The fractures were categorized based on tooth type, location, the part of the tooth area, the extent of the fracture and the fracture line.
Results
Fractures with pulp exposure were the most common (57.7%), the most frequently injured teeth were the maxillary and mandibular canines (40.9%). 161 fractures were found in a total of 93 animals, of which 69 were dogs and 24 were cats. The age of occurrence was 5.2 years, most fractures were observed in small dogs, while medium and large dogs and cats showed a similar frequency. The tooth fractures were treated by tooth extraction (74.5%), endodontic treatment (4.3%)or light-cured composite resin restoration (11.2%).
Conclusions
The clinical signs and treatment differ depending on the type of fracture, the owner's choice of treatment and chronicity.
