Tooth root infections

ktj1891

ktj1891

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Had some semi results from my horses ct today. My vets don't have the results yet but they spoke to the vet at the surgery the ct scan was done at who has looked at the results and he has said possible two teeth are infected!!!

So major worry head on now they don't want to remove the teeth really and have suggested possibly filling the cavities. Has anyone heard of this, know the success rates and costs involved?

Or depending on results may have to remove the two teeth and flush the sinuses?

I have about 3300 left in my insurance and am worrying about this as well as the implications of either of the treatments above. Anyone gone through this themselves, can offer any advise, priced and experience?
 
Sorry to hear about the tooth troubles.

I imagine they mean an apicectomy procedure, where they go through the sinus and cut the end off the roots and seal them up to effectively seal the bugs into the teeth and prevent the abscess occurring again.

In humans the procedure is very technique sensitive, i imagine the same would be true on a horse, maybe more so. You would be best to ask the individual vets about the costs and success rates.
 
Hi Thank you for your reply I will be asking my vets all these questions once they have reviewed the ct scan bu ATM I am wracking my brains with nerves about it all and wanted to here some peoples experiences.
As far as I am aware they are either going to remove the teeth or fill the cavities - to which I am not sure about as I do not know how that will prevent any further infections arising!

Anymore information/experiences would be great!
 
My horse came to me with a similar issue his tooth was removed and after a straight forward recovery he now just needs us to squirt out anything that gets caught in the hole regularily with a syringe and dilute listerine and to get the tooth on the other side ( that's not getting worn ) rasped four times a year.
I would be very cautious and research carefully the filling route before embarking on it be sure you know exactly the sucess rate and prognosis for it.
 
Yes this was my worry with the filling aspect I dont want it to re-occur. I know implications of removing teeth I have been told is dentist twice a year. However, I would rather that than infections re-occurring!
 
ktj1891 said:
Yes this was my worry with the filling aspect I dont want it to re-occur. I know implications of removing teeth I have been told is dentist twice a year. However, I would rather that than infections re-occurring!
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I am checking four time ATM until I get more feel for what he needs it not an issue as the vets here all the time so it's does not cost me a call out to get a check.
 
If mine i would grt teeth removed, lots of antibiotics, and if infection has not cleared after 7 days then a swab and change antibiotics, it like anything else can have good and bad results but the infection is the one to watch out for.
 
ATM I am more swayed to just have them removed but obviously need to wait until my vets have reviewed the CT scans and advised what they think I should do. Just so stressful trying to get everything sorted and booked and working out costs etc!
 
Had this problem with an 8 year old.....and vet was reluctant to remove said tooth due to it's length as per his age.
So...we went down the antibiotic route ....using Sodium Iodate.....over a course of 3 months...worked a treat and on re examination the infection had all cleared. The jaw bone was affected in the infection so he now has one side of his face larger than the other...where a cavesson noseband would go.....but people only notice if it is pointed out.
Explaore all the avenues and then make your choice.
Best of luck:)
Bryndu
 
My horse had a huge bony lump on his jaw he was six when the tooth was removed one year later he has reabsorbed the bony lump and you cannot tell anything was ever wrong.
I would not be getting any work done on the tooth anywhere that was not specialist in the area , my horse went to the dick which is a centre of excellence for teeth
 
Thank you Bryndu. This has been ongoing since March now and he has been on 3 courses of antibiotics. Only symptoms is sinusitis. He still has snotty nose more radio-graphs taken suspicions of tooth root infection hence trip to Bristol for CT scan. My vets haven't received the results yet but vet at Bristol has spoken to my vets and stated he believes infection of two teeth. I don't think antibiotics are going to clear it. Something more invasive needs to be done. Thank you for your advise.
 
Antiobiotics wont solve the problem, filling the teeth or removing them will solve the problem, but the infection that goes with it is what can kill, yes can kill, so that needs to be controlled, bryndu already said her horse has a swollen face because of the infection.
 
If you want to be sure the cause has gone I would get the offending tooth/teeth out, unless its going to cause a big functional issue in which case see if you can be referred to an expert for the op on the tooth root.
A simple filling will not get rid of the infection, nor will antibiotics unfortunately, as you already know :(
 
Yeah it's pretty pants ATM. I jut hope my remaining insurance money is about and that whatever the procedure it is successful!
 
I think the removal of one tooth cost £1300 at the dick and I had some vets visit at home after which where extra .
The whole toothgate episode cost about £4500
 
I have already spent 1700 on nothing really. So 3300 left. Lady at my yard had a tooth removed on one of her horses earlier this year at same place my horse had ct. she said it cost £1000. She said if the two infected teeth are next to eachother she reckons it would be about £1500 to have both removed. I have no idea what fillings would cost or flushing the sinuses?
 
I was lucky the Dick did a deal with me on the cost of the diagnosics as he presented strangely and they never found the infection on any of the diagnosics so kept repeating them .
In the end with the lump growing the horse running a fever and looking terrible I took the desision and ordered the removal of the tooth
It was a good call he's not looked back .
 
If two teeth are removed especially if they are next to each other then the opposing tooth/teeth may over-erupt causing a problem when chewing.

My horse had her sinus's cleaned under heavy standing sedation and the operation and 10 days recovery in equine hospital cost £1,500.00 inclusive. The operation was a great success.
 
Oh rite that doesn't make it sound as bad in price. Hopefully I will have some decisions and pricing made today.
 
Goldenstar said:
My horse went to the dick which is a centre of excellence for teeth
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I would disagree on the centre of excellence statement! It cost £6500 for one tooth to be removed there after they made a cock up trying to remove it under standing sedation and had to take her to general anaesthetic. My horse had already had a one week stay there a few weeks earlier where they said that there was no tooth infection, so she went back a few weeks later with no improvement and I had to virtually beg for x-rays to be done again, but by this point, the infection was so severe they could hardly see the teeth on the x-rays. Eventually they found it after days of flushing the sinuses to get a clear x-ray and when they eventually removed the tooth via repulsion they found the whole of the tooth pulp had gone. So it had been there for some time. The infection wouldn't clear up or respond to antibiotics and it took them weeks to discover she had pseudomonas, hence her not responding to the antibiotics. Then just before she was due to come home she got a streptococcal infection at the internal suture site. She was in hospital for just under three months. Although I'm sure they're excellent at most other things, I would never ever let that vet near any animal of mine, ever again.
 
I suspect it will be a pretty specialist thing I work in dentistry and for this to be done on a human would be costly the only 100% cure would be an extraction. An extraction would surly be cheaper too.
Hope all is resolved soon. X
 
My boy suddenly developed a very large swelling on his jawbone the day he was due to go for scoping for Ulcers.Had head x-ray and showed a tooth root infection with no damage to the tooth or any cavities..Tried him on Oral antibiotics but after a week it swelled back up,got admitted and was in for 2 weeks with IV antibiotics,the day after the IV was removed and I was due to bring him home the swelling came straight back.He had to have a 3 hour standing sedation and tooth removed successfully.Vets really did not want to remove tooth because of his age.Was in for another 5 days,came home,syringed mouth out regularly and within 3 weeks was back in work.Bone on his jaw was re absorbed within 5 months and hasn't looked back.Just syringe out occasionally and have to have teeth checked every 6 months.Cost about £3,000. From start to finish and was all covered by Insurance.Only thing they didn't cover all of was the Stabling.Good luck,I was just relieved in the end when the tooth came out!
 
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