This FAQ looks at a common problem, especially for dogs: worn down teeth. What causes teeth to wear, and what should you do about worn down teeth in your pet?
Teeth wear down by rubbing on each other (a malocclusion or "bad bite") or by the pet chewing on their fur and skin (as in the case of itchy allergies) or by the pet chewing on items (pet toys, bones, sticks, rocks, etc.). This change usually occurs gradually, and the tooth responds by laying down additional dentin to harden the injured area. In these cases, the teeth are normally left alone unless they are painful or the gum is infected.
In the case of sudden wear or a fracture of the tooth caused by chewing, this necessitates an examination by your veterinarian. Depending on the nature and extent of the tooth injury, your vet may elect to extract the tooth or preform an endodontic treatment (also known as a root canal), just like in humans.
If the teeth are very worn, your veterinarian may want to do dental radiographs even if your pet is not showing signs of infection or discomfort. Radiographs will rule out a "dead" tooth that appears fine on the outside, but not vital on the inside. This could could cause problems later on.
Reference resource and excellent photos of worn teeth in a dog:
American Veterinary Dental Society - Worn Teeth
