Puppy's deciduous teeth don't fall out – when should they be removed?

📞 Dental appointment booking: 010 739 9130

📍 Sacrum Animal Hospital, Porttisuontie 13, 01200 Vantaa

Quick answer: If a permanent tooth emerges for a puppy, but the deciduous tooth remains in place, it is a retained deciduoustooth. It should be examined because it can cause crowding, malocclusion, and gingivitis.

Puppies' tooth replacement is a normal part of growth, but sometimes deciduous teeth do not fall out in time. This is common, especially in small breeds.

When to see a vet?

Contact your vet if any of the following apply:

• A permanent tooth has erupted next to a deciduous tooth.
• The deciduous tooth is not loose at all.
• The gum is red or there's a bad smell from the mouth.
• The bite appears crowded.

What can cause the symptom?

1. Retained deciduous tooth

The deciduous tooth remains in place and the permanent tooth erupts next to it.

2. Malocclusion

Crowding can guide the permanent tooth into an incorrect position.

3. Gingivitis

Food and plaque easily accumulate between two teeth.

What can you do at home?

• Do not pull the tooth yourself without a veterinarian's instructions.
• Monitor tooth eruption.
• Book a dental check-up if the permanent tooth has already erupted.

What is done at the vet?

The veterinarian examines the bite and decides whether the deciduous tooth needs to be removed under anesthesia.

Sacrum Animal Hospital can help

If you are unsure about the severity of the symptom, it's better to contact us than to wait and monitor the situation for too long. A professional can help assess whether it's an emergency or an appointment that can be booked.

📞 Dental appointment booking: 010 739 9130

📍 Sacrum Animal Hospital, Porttisuontie 13, 01200 Vantaa