Dogs can have root canal treatment to save a damaged tooth rather than having it extracted.
At Sandringham Veterinary Hospital, we offer root canal therapy for suitable teeth, particularly important teeth such as the canines.
Why Would My Dog Need a Root Canal?
Root canal treatment is usually recommended when the pulp—the living tissue inside the tooth—has been exposed, damaged or infected.
This commonly happens when a dog fractures a tooth.
Once the pulp is damaged, we generally have two options:
Extract the tooth or save it with a root canal.
What Does a Root Canal Involve?
The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia.
We take dental X-rays, remove the damaged or infected tissue from inside the tooth, clean and disinfect the root canal and then fill and seal it.
The nerve inside the tooth is removed, but the tooth remains in the mouth and continues to function.
Why Not Just Extract the Tooth?
Large teeth, particularly canine teeth, have very long roots and can require significant surgery to remove.
If the tooth can be saved, root canal treatment allows us to treat the pain and infection while keeping the tooth.
Suitability and Limitations
Not every damaged tooth can be saved with a root canal.
The tooth needs to have enough healthy structure remaining to be useful and strong after treatment. Dental X-rays are also important to assess the root and surrounding bone.
If the tooth is badly fractured, severely affected by periodontal disease, very loose or has significant damage around the root, extraction may be the better option.
Root canal treatment also doesn’t make the tooth indestructible. The remaining tooth can still fracture, so very hard toys, bones and other hard objects should be avoided afterwards.
How Much Does It Cost?
At Sandringham Veterinary Hospital, a canine root canal is approximately $3,399.
Our quote includes:
- Pre-anaesthetic blood test
- General anaesthesia and intravenous fluids
- Professional scale and polish above and below the gum line
- Dental nerve blocks
- Root canal therapy
- Pain relief and anti-inflammatory injection
It is normally a day procedure, with your dog going home the same day.
We examine the tooth again three days later, free of charge.
What Happens Afterwards?
Root canal therapy has an overall success rate of approximately 85–95%.
The tooth should be monitored throughout your dog’s life.
At Sandringham Veterinary Hospital, extraction isn’t always the only option for a broken tooth.
If we can save an important tooth, root canal treatment gives us the opportunity to keep it.