Dogs can be hard on their teeth! They often fracture them by chewing on hard objects, toys, and bones. Teeth can also be fractured secondary to trauma. Dogs can cause damage and wear to the enamel and/or dentin on their teeth by repetitive motions, such as biting a metal cage when they are kenneled. In some cases of fractured or damaged teeth, crowns can be placed to strengthen teeth and prevent further damage. Crowns may also be recommended after performing a root canal therapy to better keep bacteria from leaking into the root canal site and to add strength to the compromised tooth structure.
The crown procedure requires two separate visits. During the first visit, your pet will be place under anesthesia, and the tooth will be prepared for the crown. Stone models and impressions are made to send to the lab for the crown to be fabricated. Crowns are made from either titanium (which is silver in color) or zirconia (which is tooth colored). It takes about 2 weeks for the fabricated crown to be returned to us. Your pet will then come in for a second visit and have the crown cemented onto the tooth under light anesthesia.
