Localized Intrinsic Staining of Teeth Due to Pulpitis and Pulp Necrosis in Dogs

Dental charts and records of 71 dogs were received and 84 intact tooth crowns were noted to have been entirely discolored in shades of pink, purple, grey, or tan. Endodontic therapy was performed on 49 of these teeth allowing gross examination of the entire pulp. In exploratory pulpotomy was performed in 15 teeth prior to exodontic therapy in order to assess the integrity of the coronal pulp. Gross signs of partial or total pulp necrosis were present in 59 (92.2%) of these teeth. The pulp was not observed grossly in 20 teeth which received exodontic therapy. Overall, of the 84 teeth evaluated, 36 (42.9%) had no radiographic signs of endodontic disease. Gross or radiographic signs of endodontic disease were absent in only 2 (4.1%) discolored teeth receiving endodontic therapy. Based on the low incidence of vital, affected teeth in the dogs of this study, endodontic on exodontic therapy is recommended for discolored teeth.