Tooth fracture - root canal or removal?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Tooth fracture - root canal or removal?

     Maggie has a "slab fracture" of one of her carnassial molars (biggest tooth in her mouth) and will be having surgery next week.  The vet said she might only need a minor repair but if he sees decay on the xrays our options are root canal or removal.  Any first person accounts of both options to help me work through this before next week?  Thanks in advance for any help!

    • Gold Top Dog

    ****Digging through Lexi's medical file***

    Lexi had a slab fracture on her 304 (left bottom K9), and the pulp was expose. Her choices were an extraction or root canal, and we went with the root canal for a few reasons:

    1. To take the tooth out would require cutting into her jaw and would require more extensive surgery to her mouth

    2. She was young, with very healthy teeth otherwise

    3. The root canal meant she would still have part of the K9 to use

    In case you haven't seen any prices yet:

    Lexi had the procedure done in Vienna, Virginia and the total bill was $767 in 2005. Vienna, VA is a fairly pricey suburb of DC, so I am sure the price will vary depending on where you are. I would expect the bill to be about 60% of that where I live now (rural upstate NY).

    Down the Road:

    Her root canal tooth is still doing great. (knocking on wood), I think I would suggest going with a root canal if that means you can save the tooth.