Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vital pulp therapy in dogs works well regardless of age with 80%
By Elazegui, Ethan et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2025·University of Wisconsin-Madison·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Vital pulp therapy in dogs maintains an 80% success rate independent of patient age: a 25-year retrospective study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with exposed dental pulp underwent a treatment called vital pulp therapy (VPT) to save their teeth. The study found that this treatment had an 80% success rate, meaning most dogs did well after the procedure. Interestingly, the age of the dog and how long the pulp had been exposed didn't significantly affect the outcome. However, how deep the treatment was applied did play a role in success. Overall, VPT is a good option for dogs with certain dental issues, offering a less invasive alternative to root canal therapy.
People also search for: dog dental treatment success rate · vital pulp therapy for dogs · exposed tooth pulp treatment · dog tooth extraction alternatives
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To reassess the success rate of vital pulp therapy (VPT) in dogs and evaluate the impact of patient age and pulp exposure duration on outcomes. METHODS: The University of Wisconsin Veterinary Care medical records database was searched for dogs undergoing VPT from January 2000. Patient age, pulp exposure duration, and other variables were recorded. Radiographs taken before, immediately after, and at the last follow-up were evaluated. Outcomes were categorized as successful, having no evidence of failure, or failure. RESULTS: Of 219 VPT cases, 48 dogs with 79 teeth met the inclusion criteria. The VPT success rate was 80% (63 of 79). No significant correlation was found between age and success. Longer exposure (> 24 hours) was linked to longer time to failure, while shorter exposure (< 24 hours) had a shorter time to failure, compared to immediate treatment. Deep penetration of pulp dressing significantly increased failure odds. CONCLUSIONS: VPT remains a viable alternative to root canal therapy for managing pulp exposure in dogs, with an 80% success rate. While age and exposure duration did not significantly impact outcomes, pulp dressing depth and treatment indication (eg, malocclusion vs complicated crown fracture) did. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study updates the success rate of VPT in dogs and examines factors influencing outcomes with current standards. Potential advancements in biomaterials and regenerative endodontics to improve future success are also discussed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40683315/