Wound healing complications after tooth extraction in dogs

This prospective clinical study aimed to assess incidence of wound healing complications associated with extraction sites following permanent tooth extractions in healthy dogs.

Eighty-seven client-owned healthy adult dogs undergoing clinically indicated closed or open dental extractions, comprising 404 extraction sites, were included in the study. No perioperative and immediate postoperative antibiotics or antiseptics were used in any of the dogs. All dogs were discharged on the day of the procedure with pain management as clinically indicated and underwent a routine (non-sedated) follow-up examination 10 days later. Sites with incomplete epithelial healing and wound edge separation were classified as dehisced. Weekly in-person or telemedicine follow-up examinations were performed until complete healing was confirmed.

Dehiscence was the most common postoperative complication, diagnosed in 19.5% (17/87) of the dogs and 4.2% (17/404) of the extraction sites within 10 days after the procedure. Most affected sites involved large, functionally important teeth, and 76.5% (13/17) of cases were mild. None of the dehisced sites required surgical revision, and only 23.5% (4/17) dogs required additional medical management with antibiotics and/or analgesia. All dehisced sites healed by second intention within one month. Increasing body weight was associated with higher odds of dehiscence, with a 13% increase in odds for each additional kilogram of body weight. Removal of at least 50% of the alveolar bone, extraction in the rostral mandibular region, and the use of triangular flaps during open extraction were also significantly associated with increased odds of dehiscence. Traumatic dentoalveolar injury was the only indication for tooth extraction significantly associated with increased odds of dehiscence.

Extraction wound dehiscence was uncommon at the individual-site level, but remained a clinically relevant postoperative complication when assessed per treated dog. Most affected sites healed uneventfully by second intention within one month, without surgical revision or prolonged medical management. This finding supports conservative management of extraction wound dehiscence in uncomplicated cases.