Should I Replace A Tooth?

[Sweet Apple]

Some time back, Apple lost a botton front tooth...I'm thinking she knocked it out, jumping up on my wood computer chair...The one next to it, looked like a baby tooth, and I'm thinking it may have been a baby tooth, and there is no adult tooth behind it???...The tooth was there, when she was spayed @ a yr. old, and the vet didn't remove it (She did remove two upper canines), so she must have thought it was an adult tooth? My question is, should I see about having a spacer put in their, like humans do, so that the other teeth won't move, and get loose, and fall out (?) or has anyone heard about putting a permanent false tooth in ( please don't laugh here, lol, even 'though I am)...I guess my main concern is she is only 22 months old, and still has 10 or more years w/those teeth, and I don't want the remaining teeth to, possibly, get loose, because that one is missing...

[Ellie May]

Do you means the ones between the canines (incisors)? Those are very small as adult teeth. They can do just fine without them. Ellie lost some and had the rest pulled. Shouldn't be a problem if I understand the question. They don't sound like baby teeth...

[Sweet Apple]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Do you means the ones between the canines (incisors)? Those are very small as adult teeth. They can do just fine without them. Ellie lost some and had the rest pulled. Shouldn't be a problem if I understand the question. They don't sound like baby teeth...

Thanks Crystal for your answer...Doesn't seem like many people have much to say about losing teeth lol...The reason I thought they might be baby teeth is the two front (well, now one) bottom teeth, right smack dab in the middle, weren't smooth on top, like adult teeth...More kinda cerated (sp?), if you will, like baby teeth...Oh well, as long as the rest don't start shifting, and cause her to loose her teeth...One good thing about these pups being on raw, is they're always able to eat their food, if they lose their teeth, but she sure would miss chewing on bully sticks w/o her teeth...

[shodanusmc]

She will be just fne without that little tooth. She do their chewing and knawing with their back teeth. Not sure they do bridges and implants on canines. I would be more concerned with her long term dental care and het her teeth professionally cleaned every year or two. She will wind up losing more teeth as the years go by. Before you know it, they start looking like my avatar, which is quite life like according to my wife.

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Do you means the ones between the canines (incisors)? Those are very small as adult teeth. They can do just fine without them. Ellie lost some and had the rest pulled. Shouldn't be a problem if I understand the question. They don't sound like baby teeth...

My Becca lost one of her bottom front teeth when she was about two, then lost another several months later. She never had any problems after that.

[kjc]

You could take her to a board certified dentist for an evaluation. They will be able to tell you more info on what can and cannot be done or should be done to give her the best outcome in her senior years.

[Sweet Apple]

Thanks for the input, ya'll...Sorry about those teeth (or the lack thereof) Shodanusmc ...I'll, totally, stay on top of her dental...Just had a rescue's teeth cleaned and two retained teeth extracted, and she's only between a year and a year and a half old...She's a yorkie mix, and her teeth were horrible!!! Apple will be visiting her vet, that we trust so much, in just 2 months, on her 2nd birthday...Omg'sh, I can't believe she's going to be 2!!!...Funny how teeth are different in each pup...My little Buzzy Boy has perfect teeth, all white and clean and straight, w/no tartar...He's only 13 months old, but his teeth are beautiful...The girls, are not as fortunate...

[Ellie May]

Hmm, come to think of it those, was there crowding in the area before? Is there any tartar at all? Did it fall out or break off?

[Sweet Apple]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Hmm, come to think of it those, was there crowding in the area before? Is there any tartar at all? Did it fall out or break off?

No, no crowding...Honestly, I think she was jumping up on my hard wood computer chair, and hit the side of it...I just don't know why more didn't come out, and I'm not even sure about that? I do remember that evening, she was licking and slurping, and seemed uncomfortable, but I didn't put two and two together...I noticed the tooth missing, the next day...

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Sweet Apple

No, no crowding...Honestly, I think she was jumping up on my hard wood computer chair, and hit the side of it...I just don't know why more didn't come out, and I'm not even sure about that? I do remember that evening, she was licking and slurping, and seemed uncomfortable, but I didn't put two and two together...I noticed the tooth missing, the next day...

If the root is still in there, you may have a problem. If the gums close around it, it can get infected and abscess. Any weird anything going on there and the vet should take a look...

They can lose teeth from chewing on things that are too hard also...

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

If the root is still in there, you may have a problem. If the gums close around it, it can get infected and abscess. Any weird anything going on there and the vet should take a look...

They can lose teeth from chewing on things that are too hard also...

I agree. I would be concerned that the rest of the tooth is still there under the gums. I agree with Crystal that your vet should take a look.

[Sweet Apple]

Oh she's fine...She's been to the vet, since this all happened, and it appears the whole tooth is gone...We discussed that we will be making some decisions about her dental, on her 2nd birthday....

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Sweet Apple

Oh she's fine...She's been to the vet, since this all happened, and it appears the whole tooth is gone...We discussed that we will be making some decisions about her dental, on her 2nd birthday....

I wouldn't worry about it then.

It really is more of a cosmetic issue. She will do just fine without that tooth.

I spend a fortune on Lady, but even I would draw the line at a dental implant for a dog. I got a root fracture in a tooth I had an old root canal in and the implant cost me $5,000! I would imagine it would probably be more for a dog since each procedure (bone graft, then implant, then placing the screw to hold the crown, then the crown) would have to be done under general anesthesia, not a local like with humans.

[Sweet Apple]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I wouldn't worry about it then.

It really is more of a cosmetic issue. She will do just fine without that tooth.

I spend a fortune on Lady, but even I would draw the line at a dental implant for a dog. I got a root fracture in a tooth I had an old root canal in and the implant cost me $5,000! I would imagine it would probably be more for a dog since each procedure (bone graft, then implant, then placing the screw to hold the crown, then the crown) would have to be done under general anesthesia, not a local like with humans.

Omg'sh...I hate to hear that...I've got a tooth, the dentist said was fractured, and they'd just "watch" it...Dang, $5000! With Ms. Apple's raw, grooming, vet and toys, she'll just have to keep her little mouth closed, when she smiles lol...Btw, here's a pic of her, when she forgot to close her mouth I think (?) I really don't know how to do this stuff...

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Sweet Apple

Omg'sh...I hate to hear that...I've got a tooth, the dentist said was fractured, and they'd just "watch" it...Dang, $5000! With Ms. Apple's raw, grooming, vet and toys, she'll just have to keep her little mouth closed, when she smiles lol...Btw, here's a pic of her, when she forgot to close her mouth I think (?) I really don't know how to do this stuff...

Don't panic! If you've just got a tooth fracture, they can crown it, about $1200. I had a fracture in the root of the tooth since had an old root canal so the tooth was hopeless.