Fractured Tooth in Cats
Fractured Tooth in Cats
There are three layers to the tooth. The outside layer is a thin layer called the enamel. The second layer is under the enamel consists of a hard substance called dentin. The inside of the tooth is called the dental pulp, which is made up of arteries, veins, nerves and connective tissue.
A tooth can be traumatized in various manners. Tooth trauma and/or a fracture or break can have enamel and dentin missing, pulp exposure with and without bleeding, a dark discolored tooth, a loose tooth or facial swelling over the root of a damaged tooth. Any portion of the root or crown can be broken or damaged. A tooth can even be knocked from its socket (avulsion).
In cats, tooth fracture can be related to hit-by-car incidents, a fall from a high place, such as out a window, facial trauma from an animal attack or a fractured jaw resulting in tooth fracture. Resorptive lesions, which are destructive lesions in the tooth that cause loss of dentin, can also weaken a tooth leading to fracture. A fractured tooth can occur below the gum line, vertically or horizontally in the tooth. The level (locations or depth) at which the root is fractured helps determine if the tooth can be saved.
Fractured teeth are painful even if the cat does not show much pain. The tooth, facial area, jaws and head can be sensitive and painful. The cat can be head shy or purposely avoid having facial or head contact with the owner. He may drop his food while chewing, not pick the food up properly, or chew properly. Difficulty chewing can lead to inadequate nutrition.
What to Watch For
- Changes in the tooth shape, color or position
- Localized facial swelling or pain
- Reduced biting pressure during play or aggression training
- Reluctance to eat or refusal of food, especially hard or fibrous food
Diagnosis of a Fractured Tooth in Cats
Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests and subsequent treatment recommendations. A tooth fracture should be treated as an emergency. If there is pulp exposure, then there probably is increased sensitivity and much pain. A pulp exposure may lead to bleeding and then infection of the pulp inside of tooth. The tooth is usually treated for infection and trauma. Diagnostic tests are needed in tooth trauma cases. Tests may include:
- A complete medical history and physical examination needs to be completed by your veterinarian. Examination for other evidence of trauma should be completed. Jaw and skull fractures can accompany fractures of the teeth.
- Dental radiographs (X-rays) may be completed, while under general anesthesia.
- Physical examination/evaluation of each tooth may be done with a periodontal probe, a blunt-tipped instrument used to probe under the gums.
- Blood chemistries, a complete blood count (CBC), and urinalysis may be suggested to determine the general health of the patient. These tests are also recommended prior to anesthesia.
Treatment of a Fractured Tooth in Cats
Treatments for tooth trauma may include one or more of the following:
- If only the dentin is exposed and not the dental pulp, then a fluoride or bonding sealant, the material dentists apply to children’s molars at age six and eight that prevents cavities, can be applied. This reduces sensitivity and prevents bacterial invasion of the pulp cavity.
- Severely damaged teeth may need to be extracted.
- More advanced stages of pulp damage require root canal therapy and crown restoration (cast metal crowns). Some teeth will require root canal therapy if the fracture has involved the pulp and there will be redness or bleeding of the pulp. Root canal therapy is superior to extraction in almost all cases. Root canal therapy of functional teeth is much less painful than extractions. Extractions that involve bone loss may require eight to 12 weeks to heal and then the cat is without tooth function.
- Early tooth fractures may be treated with direct or indirect pulp capping, designed to save the health of the tooth.
- Tooth fractures in the line of jaw fractures, should be left in place if they contribute to fracture stability and after the jaw heals a root canal should be performed.
- An avulsed tooth, or a tooth displaced from the socket, should be repositioned as quickly as possible. Place in whole milk for temporary preservation while waiting for re-implantation by your veterinarian.
There is no viable home care for a fractured tooth. See your veterinarian for treatment recommendations. If a tooth is completely dislodged from the jaw, place the tooth in whole milk and seek veterinary assistance immediately. Do not scrub or wash the tooth prior to placing in milk.
After treatment, give oral antibiotics and pain medication as directed by your veterinarian. Once the tooth has been treated, avoid giving your cat hard objects to chew, or play toys that require your cat to chew them or pick them up with their teeth.
Avoid traumatic incidents by keeping your cat indoors. Make sure all open windows are securely screened. Monitor items given to your cat to chew, and avoid giving your cat items to chew that may lead to tooth trauma or fracture. Watch your cat during aggressive or interactive play.
If tooth trauma has occurred, seek treatment immediately. One fluoride treatment of your cat’s teeth in the first 18 months of life will help strengthen the teeth slightly.
Meno ya paka ni ya aina tatu: Safu ya nje ni safu nyembamba inayoitwa enamel. Safu ya pili iko chini ya enamel na ina dutu ngumu iitwayo dentin. Sehemu ya ndani ya jino huitwa pulpa ya meno, ambayo inajumuisha mishipa, mishipa, neva na tishu ya kuunganisha. Meno yanaweza kuharibiwa kwa njia mbalimbali. Matatizo ya meno na au kuvunjika kwa meno yanaweza kuwa na enamel na dentin inayokosekana, mfiduo wa pulp na bila kutokwa na damu, jino lenye rangi nyeusi, jino la kuvu au uvimbe wa uso juu ya mzizi wa jino lililoharibiwa. Sehemu yoyote ya mizizi au taji yaweza kuvunjika au kuharibiwa. Meno yaweza hata kugongwa kutoka kwenye kisima chake (kuondolewa). Katika paka, kuvunjika kwa meno kunaweza kuhusiana na ajali za gari, kuanguka kutoka mahali pa juu, kama vile nje ya dirisha, majeraha ya uso kutokana na shambulio la mnyama au taya iliyovunjika na kusababisha kuvunjika kwa jino. Uharibifu wa meno unaoitwa resorptive, ambao ni uharibifu wa meno unaosababisha kupoteza dentin, pia unaweza kudhoofisha jino na kusababisha kuvunjika. Kifo cha meno kinaweza kutokea chini ya mstari wa taya, wima au usawa katika jino. Kiwango (mahali au kina) ambacho mizizi imevunjika husaidia kuamua ikiwa jino linaweza kuokolewa. Meno yaliyovunjika ni yenye kuumiza hata ikiwa paka haonyeshi maumivu mengi. Meno, sehemu ya uso, taya na kichwa vinaweza kuwa nyeti na zenye maumivu. Paka anaweza kuwa na haya ya kichwa au kwa makusudi kuepuka kuwasiliana na mmiliki wake kwa uso au kichwa. Anaweza kuangusha chakula chake anapokula, asichukue chakula vizuri, au kukinyonga vizuri. Ugumu wa kutafuna unaweza kusababisha lishe isiyofaa. Mabadiliko katika umbo la meno, rangi au nafasi ya meno - Uvimbe wa uso au maumivu ya eneo - Kupungua kwa shinikizo la kuumwa wakati wa kucheza au mafunzo ya uhasama - Kukataa kula au kukataa chakula, haswa chakula kigumu au nyuzinyuzi - Utambuzi wa jino lililovunjika kwa paka - Huduma ya mifugo inapaswa kujumuisha vipimo vya utambuzi na mapendekezo ya matibabu ya baadaye. Mvunjiko wa jino unapaswa kutibiwa kama hali ya dharura. Ikiwa kuna mwangaza wa pulp, basi yaelekea kuna mwelekeo wa kuongezeka kwa hisia na maumivu mengi. Kuambukizwa kwa pulpa kunaweza kusababisha kutokwa na damu na kisha kuambukizwa kwa pulpa ndani ya jino. Kwa kawaida jino hilo hutibiwa kwa sababu ya maambukizo na majeraha. Uchunguzi wa utambuzi unahitajika katika visa vya majeraha ya meno. Uchunguzi unaweza kujumuisha: - Historia kamili ya matibabu na uchunguzi wa kimwili unahitaji kukamilishwa na daktari wako wa mifugo. Uchunguzi kwa ajili ya ushahidi mwingine wa majeraha inapaswa kukamilika. Mvunjiko wa taya na fuvu la kichwa waweza kuambatana na kuvunjika kwa meno. - X-ray ya meno yaweza kukamilishwa, huku akiwa chini ya anesthesia ya jumla. - Uchunguzi wa kimwili au tathmini ya kila jino yaweza kufanywa kwa kutumia chombo cha kuchunguza meno, kifaa chenye ncha isiyo na umbo linalotumiwa kuchunguza chini ya meno. - Uchunguzi wa kemikali za damu, uchunguzi wa damu kamili (CBC), na uchunguzi wa mkojo waweza kupendekezwa ili kuamua afya ya jumla ya mgonjwa. Uchunguzi huo pia hupendekezwa kabla ya anesthesia. Matibabu ya meno yaliyovunjika kwa paka yanaweza kujumuisha moja au zaidi ya yafuatayo: Ikiwa dentin tu imefunikwa na sio pulp ya meno, basi fluoride au sealant ya kushikamana, vifaa vya madaktari wa meno hutumia kwa molars ya watoto katika umri wa miaka sita na nane ambayo huzuia mashimo, inaweza kutumika. Hilo hupunguza hisia na kuzuia bakteria isivamie utando wa pulpa. - Huenda ikawa lazima meno yaliyoharibiwa sana yaondolewe. - Hatua za hali ya juu zaidi za uharibifu wa pulp zinahitaji tiba ya mfereji wa mizizi na kurudishwa kwa taji (taji za chuma zilizochongwa). Kwa mfano, kuna uwezekano wa matibabu ya mifereji ya mizizi ikiwa mfupa umehusika na pulpa na kuna mwekundu au kutokwa na damu. Matibabu ya mifereji ya mizizi ni bora kuliko uchimbaji katika visa karibu vyote. Matibabu ya mifereji ya mizizi ya meno yenye utendaji ni yenye kuumiza kidogo kuliko uchimbaji. Upasuaji unaohusisha kupoteza mifupa huchukua wiki 8 hadi 12 ili kupona na kisha paka hana kazi ya meno. - Mvunjiko wa mapema wa meno waweza kutibiwa kwa kufungia mdomo moja kwa moja au kwa njia isiyo ya moja kwa moja, ili kuokoa afya ya jino. - Mvunjiko wa meno katika mstari wa kuvunjika kwa taya, inapaswa kuachwa mahali pake ikiwa inachangia utulivu wa kuvunjika na baada ya taya kupona, mfereji wa mizizi inapaswa kufanywa. - Meno yaliyoondolewa, au meno yaliyoondolewa kwenye kisima, yapasa kuwekwa mahali pake upya upesi iwezekanavyo. Weka katika maziwa kamili kwa ajili ya kuhifadhi muda wa kusubiri kwa ajili ya re-implantation na daktari wako wa mifugo. Hakuna tiba inayofaa ya nyumbani ya meno yaliyovunjika. Mtafute daktari wako wa mifugo ili upate mapendekezo ya matibabu. Ikiwa jino limetoweka kabisa kutoka kwenye taya, weka jino hilo ndani ya maziwa kamili na utafute msaada wa daktari wa mifugo mara moja. Usisugue au kuosha jino kabla ya kulitia maziwa. Baada ya matibabu, toa dawa za kuua viini kwa njia ya mdomo na dawa za maumivu kama ilivyoelekezwa na daktari wako wa mifugo. Baada ya meno yako kuharibiwa, mtoaji wa paka wako lazima awe na vitu vyenye nguvu vya kutafuna, au kucheza na vitu vya kuchezea ambavyo vinahitaji paka wako kuvitema au kuvikusanya kwa meno yake. Epuka matukio yenye kuhuzunisha kwa kumweka paka wako ndani ya nyumba. Hakikisha madirisha yote yaliyo wazi yamefunikwa kwa usalama. Angalia vitu ambavyo umempa paka wako kutafuna, na uepuke kumpa paka wako vitu vinavyoweza kusababisha majeraha ya meno au kuvunjika. Angalia paka wako wakati wa kucheza kwa ukali au kwa njia ya maingiliano. Ikiwa mguu umejeruhiwa, tafuta matibabu mara moja. Matibabu ya fluoride ya meno ya paka wako katika miezi 18 ya kwanza ya maisha itasaidia kuimarisha meno kidogo.