Discolored Teeth

A study reported in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry by Dr. Fraser Hale (JVD, Vol18:1, March 2001 and reported at the Veterinary Dental Forum in October 2001) recommended that discolored teeth be either extracted or saved with endodontia (root canal therapy). The study showed that 94% of discolored teeth suffer from partial or total pulp necrosis and only 58% of those show radiographic signs of necrosis. Dr. Hale commented that it is reasonable to extrapolate that dogs have the same endodontic pain as humans even if they do not appear to be clinically painful. He suggested that eventually we will find that 100% of discolored teeth are necrotic and in any case, we should not allow 94% of our patients to suffer.

Therefore, we recommend that all discolored teeth (even partial discoloration) receive either extraction or root canal therapy. And, since that study, 100% of the discolored teeth that we have treated either with extraction or root canal have been necrotic.