Sarge, one of our favorite patients, was seen recently for a routine dentistry procedure when it was discovered that he had damaged his right upper fourth premolar tooth and x-rays showed that it was non-vital due to pulp exposure. His parents decided that they would like him to keep this tooth rather than have it extracted since it would be hard for him to chew on that side if it were lost. Fortunately we are one of the few hospitals in the State that can offer advanced Dental care for pets and we offered to perform a Root Canal Procedure for him. The following images show certain steps in the procedure and the final product.
[ezcol_1half]
Tooth 108 x-ray taken at a prior Dentistry appointment. Note the intact crown. [/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end]
Tooth 108 at recent Dentistry appointment. Note the crown loss (Star) and the bone loss at the apex of the distal root indicating loss of vital status from fracture and infection.(Arrows)[/ezcol_1half_end]
The image to the left shows the endodontic files placed in the root canals via two access sites made to clean and shape the root canals prior to sterilizing, sealing, obturating with gutta percha material and restoring the tooth.
Here is the x-ray made to confirm “working length” prior to shaping and cleaning the canals with the files.
Final X-Ray
Here is the x-ray of the finished tooth. You can see the sealer-cement and gutta percha material used to seal and fill the canals as well as the composite restoration of the access sites. This is done with the same materials human dentists use for “fillings”.
The Finished tooth image. It is possible to further protect this tooth with a full metal crown and Sarge may have this done in the future.
