Radiographic Prevalence of Nonvital Incisor Teeth in Small Breed Dogs: A Retrospective Study (2017-2021).

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of nonvital incisor teeth in small breed dogs. Intraoral maxillary and mandibular radiographs of the incisor teeth obtained between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2021 in 287 dogs previously diagnosed as having nonvital teeth and weighing <10 kg were reviewed. A total of 2682 incisor teeth were assessed and were diagnosed as nonvital if one of the following radiographic criteria was met: widened pulp canal; widened apical periodontal ligament space; periapical radiolucency; internal root resorption; external root resorption; and changes in the trabecular bone pattern around the root apex. Of the 287 dogs, 74 (25.8%) had only 1 nonvital incisor and 57 (19.9%) had 2 or more nonvital incisors. Two hundred fifty out of 2682 incisors (9.3%) evaluated were nonvital, with the maxillary incisors being 2.1 times more likely to be nonvital (95% CI [1.6-2.9]) compared to mandibular incisors. While both periodontitis (P = .002) and class 3 malocclusion (P = .02) significantly increased the likelihood of nonvital incisors as well, age, sex, and body weight had no significant impact. Diagnosis and treatment of nonvital teeth in the dog are important, because if these are left untreated, infection and pain may ensue. The results reported here will assist veterinarians in providing optimal therapy for dogs with nonvital incisors by increasing the index of suspicion and facilitating earlier diagnosis in animals at increased risk.