Dog Broken Tooth: Signs, What to Do & Treatment Options

How to Tell If Your Dog Has a Broken Tooth

A broken tooth is one of the most common dental injuries in dogs, yet it often goes unnoticed because dogs hide pain so well. Knowing the signs and acting quickly can save your dog from serious pain and complications.

Signs of a Broken Tooth in Dogs

Visual Signs (What You Can See)

Obvious breaks:

• Missing piece of tooth
• Visible crack or chip
• Jagged tooth edge
• Pink or red spot on tooth (exposed pulp)
• Darker colored tooth (dead tooth)

Gum changes:

• Swelling around specific tooth
• Redness at gumline
• Pus or discharge
• Gum growing over broken edge

Behavioral Signs (How Your Dog Acts)

Eating changes:

• Chewing on one side only
• Dropping food
• Refusing hard food or treats
• Eating more slowly
• Loss of interest in chew toys

Pain indicators:

• Pawing at face or mouth
• Rubbing face on furniture or ground
• Head shyness (avoiding head touches)
• Drooling
• Bad breath (infection sign)

General behavior:

• Less playful
• Irritability
• Reluctance to play tug games
• Hiding or withdrawn

Silent Breaks

Many broken teeth show no obvious signs. Dogs often continue eating and playing normally despite significant dental pain. This is why regular dental checks are so important.

Types of Tooth Fractures

Enamel Fracture (Minor)

• Only outer layer affected
• Usually no pain
• May have rough edge
• Monitor for changes

Uncomplicated Crown Fracture

• Enamel and dentin broken
• Pulp (nerve) NOT exposed
• Sensitive but not severely painful
• May need smoothing or crown

Complicated Crown Fracture

• Pulp IS exposed (pink/red spot visible)
• Very painful
• High infection risk
• Requires prompt treatment

Crown-Root Fracture

• Extends below gumline
• Often not visible
• Causes significant pain
• Usually requires extraction

Root Fracture

• Break in root only
• Not visible externally
• Detected on X-ray
• Can cause abscess

Common Causes of Broken Teeth

Chewing Hard Objects

• Bones (especially cooked)
• Antlers
• Hooves
• Hard nylon toys
• Ice cubes
• Rocks

Rule of thumb: If you can't bend it or dent it with your fingernail, it's too hard for dog teeth.

Trauma

• Hit by car
• Falls
• Fights with other animals
• Blunt force to face
• Catching hard thrown objects

Weakened Teeth

• Previous dental disease
• Age-related wear
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Genetics

What to Do If Your Dog Breaks a Tooth

Immediate Steps

1. Stay calm - Your dog will sense your stress

2. Assess the situation

   • Can you see the break?
   • Is there bleeding?
   • Is the dog in obvious distress?

3. Check for exposed pulp

   • Look for pink/red spot on tooth
   • This requires urgent care

4. Don't touch or wiggle the tooth

   • Could cause more pain
   • Risk of infection

5. Feed soft food

   • Avoid pressure on broken tooth
   • Prevent further damage

6. Contact your vet

   • Same day if pulp exposed
   • Within a few days for other breaks

What NOT to Do

• Don't wait and see if pulp is exposed
• Don't try to remove the broken piece
• Don't give human pain medications (toxic to dogs)
• Don't ignore it because dog seems fine

Treatment Options

For Minor Chips (Enamel Only)

• May just need smoothing
• Bonding material to protect
• Monitor for changes
• No extraction needed

For Exposed Pulp

Option 1: Root Canal (Vital Pulp Therapy)

• Saves the tooth
• Removes infected pulp
• Seals the canal
• Best for important teeth (canines)
• More expensive
• Requires specialist

Option 2: Extraction

• Removes entire tooth
• Eliminates pain and infection risk
• Dogs adapt well
• More affordable
• Any vet can perform

For Root Fractures

• Usually requires extraction
• X-rays needed to diagnose
• May need surgical extraction

Which Teeth Are Most Commonly Broken?

Cost of Treatment

Prevention

Choose Safe Chews

• Rubber toys (Kong-type)
• Rope toys
• Soft dental chews
• Raw, meaty bones (supervised)

Avoid Dangerous Items

• Cooked bones
• Antlers
• Hard nylon bones
• Ice cubes
• Rocks

Supervision

• Monitor chewing sessions
• Remove toys when worn
• Don't let dogs chew unsupervised

Regular Dental Care

• Check teeth weekly
• Professional exams annually
• AI monitoring monthly
• Address weakness early

How Nerovet AI Can Help

Our AI can analyze photos of your dog's teeth to identify:

• Visible fractures or chips
• Discoloration suggesting dead teeth
• Gum changes around damaged teeth
• Other dental issues that weaken teeth

Early detection can prevent small chips from becoming serious breaks.

When Is a Broken Tooth an Emergency?

Emergency (Immediate Vet Care):

• Active bleeding that won't stop
• Visible exposed pulp (pink/red)
• Facial swelling
• Severe pain (can't eat at all)
• Very recent trauma

Urgent (See Vet Within 24-48 Hours):

• Any visible break
• Change in eating habits
• Signs of pain

Routine (Schedule Appointment):

• Old, stable chip
• No signs of pain
• No visible pulp exposure

Don't Ignore a Broken Tooth

Even if your dog seems fine, a broken tooth with exposed pulp will become infected. This causes ongoing pain and can lead to serious health problems.

Check Your Dog's Teeth Now →

Upload a photo of your dog's teeth to identify visible damage and get recommendations.

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This article is for informational purposes only. A broken tooth, especially with exposed pulp, requires professional veterinary evaluation and treatment.