Episode 178 - Root Fractures & Lucencies: Extraction vs. Treatment in Veterinary Dentistry

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Get more out of this episode by watching the presentation as well on YouTube: https://ivdi.org/thevetdentalshowYT

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Host:
Dr. Brett Beckman, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, DAAPM
Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist

Welcome Back to The Vet Dental Show! Every Wednesday, we bring you powerful, practical tips to enhance your veterinary dentistry skills—whether you're a veterinarian, technician, or part of a dedicated dental team.

On This Episode, Dr. Beckman answers a series of critical viewer questions on root fractures, periapical lucencies, burr selection, and vital pulp therapy. You’ll gain diagnostic confidence and learn treatment approaches straight from real-world cases and workshop examples.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ When root fractures do not require extraction
✅ How to differentiate lucencies from the normal Chevron sign
✅ Radiographic and clinical signs indicating extraction necessity
✅ Options between extraction and root canal therapy
✅ The must-have burrs for general veterinary dental procedures
✅ When vital pulp therapy is viable—and when it’s not
✅ How to perform crown reduction and biological pulp capping

Key Veterinary Dentistry Takeaways:
✅ Root segments under bone with no periodontal disease may not require extraction.
✅ Radiographic lucencies + crown mobility = extraction needed.
✅ A periapical lucency with no treatment plan = extract if root canal isn’t chosen.
✅ Use 701L and 669 crosscut burrs for most canine and feline extractions.
✅ Vital pulp therapy is only successful if performed within 24–48 hours of fracture.
✅ MTA and glass ionomer restorations are key for pulp protection.
✅ Radiographic follow-ups are essential to verify long-term healing.

If you’re passionate about veterinary dentistry and ready to become a top-tier practitioner, request an invite to the Veterinary Dental Practitioner Program at ivdi.org/inv. Don’t miss out on the most comprehensive training available!

Questions or insights? Drop them in the comments!

Keyword Tags:
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