But he returned to training yesterday after dental treatment and has declared himself fit to the latest installment of Latics' title quest.
Manager Paul Jewell said: "One of Tony's teeth got knocked out and it's pretty sore because the nerve has been affected.
"He'll be okay for the Peterborough game and he's had it sorted out at the dentist."
It's only a brief stay of execution though for Dinning, as next week he misses Luton's visit to the JJB Stadium because of a one-match suspension.
Jewell reported a clean bill of health among the rest of the squad too, with Jason Jarrett having recovered a bout of 'flu which sidelined him in midweek.
But the best he can hope for is a seat on the bench with Dinning and Jimmy Bullard – returning to the club he left just five weeks ago – forming the central midfield partnership.
Skipper Jason de Vos will be fit despite sitting out training yesterday to rest a foot injury.
It's a problem he's coped with for much of the season, and with a busy schedule of games at the moment, Jewell is content to restrict his time on the training ground.
Tomorrow's trip to London Road gives Latics the chance to return to winning ways after the draw with Tranmere. But while Posh are struggling at the wrong end of the table, Jewell only has to look back to their meeting in September to predict how tough the game will be.
"They are fighting for their lives down near the bottom and will be looking to bounce back from their 6-1 defeat at Plymouth," said the boss.
"Before that, they'd gone five away games without conceding a goal, including a win a win at Crewe.
"They have some good players and when they played at our place earlier in the season, we were 2-0 up but ended up hanging on for a 2-2 draw.
"Leon McKenzie, who is coming back from injury at the moment, is a good player, while Andy Clarke has bags of pace.
"Peterborough are a decent side at home and we'll have to play well to get something there.
"Because we're top of the league, everyone wants to knock us off and see us a bit of a scalp.
"We have to be really up for the games between now and the end of the season."