VN January 2023

Vetnuus | Januarie 2023 36 Treatment will depend on two main aspects. The first is an exposure of the pulp, and the second is the depth the fracture extends below the gingival margin. The following principles can be followed to determine the eventual fate of the tooth you are assessing: 1. No pulp exposure (uncomplicated crown fracture). Smoothing of the surface and applying a dentinal sealer. Dental Column Figure 3. A periodontal probe is inserted below the gingiva in order to detect the extent of the defect present subgingivally. Figure 4. In this photo, I am using an explorer to insert into the suspected pulp opening. This is the same dog as Figure 1, with the slab removed. Following a general anaesthesia, a detailed oral and dental evaluation of the teeth and the fractured tooth, in particular, is the logical next step. During this evaluation, a periodontal probe is used to measure the depth of the fracture below the gingival margin (Fig 3). An explorer can be used to assess the patency of the pulp canal if still not obvious (Fig. 4). Once the detailed dental evaluation is completed and recorded, we usually do a dental radiograph of the affected tooth. It is done to assess the tooth for periapical bone loss (Fig. 5) or the absence thereof (Fig 6). Longitudinal fractures may also be seen on these radiographs. Figure 5. Intraoral bisecting angle radiograph of a 4th premolar tooth with a complicated fracture. There is periapical bone loss present (yellow arrows) around the apices of all three the roots. Figure 6. Intraoral bisecting angle radiograph of a maxillary 4th premolar tooth with a complicated crown fracture. The dog was presented shortly after the incident, and no sign of periapical bone loss is evident. The normal periodontal ligament space (yellow arrows) is visible around all three roots of the tooth (compare with Fig. 5).