QUARTERLY BEAT / APRIL 2025
FRACTURED DECIDUOUS TEETH: Deciduous teeth can be more prone to fracture than the adult teeth because of their fragile structure. If pulp exposure occurs in a deciduous tooth, it is painful and will become infected. The adult tooth is forming at the apex of the deciduous tooth therefore infection/inflammation can lead to developmental defects such as enamel defects of the adult tooth. When a fractured deciduous tooth is noted, extraction should be performed as soon as possible. MALOCCLUSIONS: Discovering a discrepancy in jaw length in a puppy or kitten is not uncommon as the jaws grow independent of one another. If there is no abnormal tooth- on-tooth or tooth-on-soft tissue contact, then the occlusion can be monitored. If the occlusion is resulting in trauma to the dental tissues then treatment needs to be performed. A common malocclusion noted in puppies is a class II occlusion which results in the mandibular canine teeth traumatizing the palatal mucosa (Fig. 2). This can lead to pain, infection, inhibit mandibular growth and affect the developing adult dentition. Extraction of the teeth causing trauma is recommended as soon as the condition is noted. The owners should be educated that further orthodontic treatment of the adult dentition may be required if it also leads to a traumatic occlusion.
CLASS 0: Normal or orthoclusion CLASS I: A normal rostrocaudal relationship of the maxillary and mandibular dental arches with malposition of one or more individual teeth (e.g., base narrow mandibular canines with otherwise normal occlusion). CLASS II: An abnormal rostrocaudal relationship
between the dental arches in which the mandibular arch occludes caudal to its normal position relative to the maxillary arch.
CLASS III: An abnormal rostralcaudal relationship between the dental arches in which the mandibular arch occludes rostral to its
normal position relative to the maxillary arch.
CLASS IV: Asymmetry in a rostrocaudal, side-to-side, or dorsoventral direction. The expression "wry bite" is a layman term that has been used to describe a wide variety of unilateral occlusal abnormalities. Because "wry bite" is non-specific, its use is not recommended.
PERSISTENT DECIDUOUS TEETH: Persistent deciduous teeth occur when there are 2 teeth in the same spot at the same time (Fig. 1). The rule of dental succession is: “No two teeth should occupy the same space at the same time.” When deciduous teeth are persistent, it can lead to malocclusion and increased susceptibility to periodontal disease. Treatment should be performed as soon as the condition is diagnosed to avoid long-term issues. Removing deciduous teeth can be a tedious task that involves patience, surgical extraction, intraoral radiographs, an understanding of the developing oral anatomy, and pain control. The whole tooth needs to be removed; if root fragments are left, they could cause infection, pain, and misalignment of the adult dentition. Care must be taken to avoid damaging the adult tooth during extraction.
Figure 2. Class II Malocclusion in a young dog that is causing right mandibular deciduous canine to occlude into the palatal tissue adjacent to the right maxillary canine deciduous tooth. Image courtesy of Dr. Michael Balke, DAVDC.
CROWDED TEETH: All dogs, no matter what size, are supposed to have 42 teeth. In small, toy, and brachycephalic breeds, there is often not enough room for all the teeth, and crowding can occur. The tooth should have gingival tissue completely surrounding it. When teeth are crowded, the gingiva cannot attach effectively, resulting in pocket formation, trapping of debris, and a predilection for periodontal disease. It is often recommended to extract the smaller, less significant tooth in these situations to prevent advanced periodontal disease in the future.
HIGHLIGHTS
WEBINAR
Figure 1. Persistent deciduous maxillary canine behind an adult maxillary canine in a dog. Note the foreign material caught between the teeth that can lead to periodontal disease. Image courtesy of Dr. Michael Balke, DAVCD.
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