Broke tooth

[Mlom]

I noticed poor Cream has broke a tooth, I have no idea how so after a bit of a squeal I managed to see it had broke above the gum line.
After lots of googling I have been chopping up his food and taken him away from the cage so he can eat at his own pace. It’s a great time for Cream to become use to attention from my twinnes, I think he’s lapping up the attention. Here they are before bedtime

 

[Claire W]

Aw Cream is lovely and your doing all the right things. I hope his tooth grows back soon

 

[Bill & Ted]

I would get Cream’s broken tooth vet checked if you can, just to be on the safe side. Ask for Meloxicam for pain relief if it’s on the gum line, keep an eye out for the opposing tooth to grow longer too until the broken tooth regrows. Hope all grows back fine x

 

[Wiebke]

I noticed poor Cream has broke a tooth, I have no idea how so after a bit of a squeal I managed to see it had broke above the gum line.
After lots of googling I have been chopping up his food and taken him away from the cage so he can eat at his own pace. It’s a great time for Cream to become use to attention from my twinnes, I think he’s lapping up the attention. Here they are before bedtime View attachment 120626View attachment 120627

Hi! If he has just broken one tooth and the tooth is not wobbly or the gum affected, then you do not need any special measures. he has stil got three more teeth for picking up and cutting; and the broken tooth should grow back within 1-2 weeks. Once it is long enough, it will sharpened by the opposite teeth again.

You only need to see a vet if the tooth is wobbly (i.e. its over an inch long root is broken), if your piggie has snapped more than one tooth and the picking up/cutting function of the incisors is impaired or if the gums or face are affected, especially after a nasty fall.

 

[Mlom]

Hi thanks for the comments I’ve had good nosey everyday and no inflammation and he’s still eating as much as he usually does the tooth is definitely grown. He has been gnawing and biting at a chew toy every now and then I guessed this was all good signs he wasn’t getting much pain and to just closely monitor all other teeth are in tact and look healthy

 

[Mlom]

Just a quick update Cream has been to vets for a quick check up. Unfortunately his top tooth was very wobbly aswell and fell out. The vet has gave him an inspection and happy to monitor the teeth and way file them to help
With the growing process and no signs of ulcers or further issues
He checked his weight and said he is only slightly underweight which is a good and he is still eating pellets, hay and veggies which are all good signs I will keep you updated

 

[Bill & Ted]

That’s good that you noticed the other wobbly tooth. What you want now is for both teeth to grow back and wear each other down or both not grow back at all. If only one of them grows back then you will need to have that tooth filed on a regular basis. So glad he’s doing well x

 

[Wiebke]

Just a quick update Cream has been to vets for a quick check up. Unfortunately his top tooth was very wobbly aswell and fell out. The vet has gave him an inspection and happy to monitor the teeth and way file them to help
With the growing process and no signs of ulcers or further issues
He checked his weight and said he is only slightly underweight which is a good and he is still eating pellets, hay and veggies which are all good signs I will keep you updated

Good that you had the wobbly tooth checked. An incisor is about 4 cm long with the curved tooth roots running along the upper and lower jaw right back to the grinding premolars and molars at the back. That means that it is not rare for an incisor to snap well below the gum.

In this case, monitoring the hopefully straight regrowth and monitoring for potential inflammation or abscesses is important. All the best!
A single healthy incisor can still work again the two on the opposite side; it may look a little wonky but it functions. Any filing should be minor and any filing should keep in mind that the bottom incisors always look too long to vets not familiar with guinea pigs.