Broken or fractured teeth are not uncommon in active dogs. The teeth are very hard, but rock chewing and traumatic impact commonly lead to breakage. Chewing on wire fences, cage doors, or ice cubes sometimes also result in tooth fractures.
The most commonly fractured tooth in dogs is the canine tooth followed by the upper fourth molar. Symptoms that may appear include a swollen jaw, an obvious fracture in the tooth that can be seen, or an abscess on the gums that noticeably swells.
Treatment for fractured teeth in dogs depends on the type and scope of the fracture. The determining factor is if the fracture has cut into the pulp canal, which is the chamber that houses the pulp tissue, blood vessels and nerves.