The crown of a tooth is made up of three structures: enamel, dentine and the pulp. The enamel is the shiny white outer coating of the tooth and is the hardest tissue within the body. Its function is as a protective layer to the continuous trauma from chewing and oral bacteria. Underneath this is the dentine, which in adult animals, makes up the majority of the tooth. It contains thousands of tubules which carry the nerves that radiate from the pulp.
The pulp is in the centre of the tooth and is the ‘living’ part of the tooth containing blood vessels and nerves and is highly sensitive. Tooth trauma can cause inflammation within the tooth and can sometimes break the tooth which can result in severe pain at the time of the injury, and with time changes within the root of the tooth and the bone surrounding it. Trauma can also occur over a long period of time with wear to the teeth.
Discoloured teeth
Tooth discolouration can be seen usually a as a purple, pink or grey colour change visible on the tooth surface. The discolouration is caused by bleeding from the pulp into the dentine after a traumatic event. The trauma and resulting inflammation will usually lead to irreversible damage of the tooth.
Worn teeth
Wearing of the surface of the tooth can occur with chewing of inappropriate objects. If it occurs slowly, then the pulp and dentine can repair themselves. However, wear can also lead to inflammation within the pulp and can again result in irreversible damage to the pulp.
Diagnosis
Fractures usually occur following blunt trauma to the teeth. Sometimes this will just be damage to the enamel and dentine, but sometimes this can result in damage to the pulp as well. Exposure of the pulp and the nerves within it is extremely painful at the time of the injury, and an exposed pulp provides an open channel for bacteria to penetrate into the bone of the jaw. An exposed pulp will either bleed or show as a pink ring initially, and as the pulp decays will show as a black circle.
Fractured teeth
All damaged teeth should be assessed under anaesthetic, where a probe can be used to assess if the pulp is exposed. Dental x-rays should be taken to assess the pulp within the tooth and the bone surrounding the damaged teeth for signs of progression of the disease.
Treatment
Fractured teeth or teeth with an inflamed pulp always require treatment. Sometimes the pulp can be removed and replaced with inert material (root canal treatment) which will stop the tooth from being painful and will retain the tooth within the mouth. If this is not the best option, then the tooth should be extracted. The damaged tooth should never be left and monitored.
Making a Referral
For emergencies, call us on 01962 767920 if you feel your case needs seeing on the same day or within 24 hours. Our telephone systems will prioritise you when you press option 1. For urgent and routine referrals, please use our online referral form