How to Identify Dental Malocclusions in Pets
The misalignment of teeth between the maxillary and mandibular dental arches is called malocclusion. Malocclusions can be brought on by inherited reasons, injury, tumors, or infections and can affect one or more teeth. Crowding and tooth rotation can be caused by breed differences in skull shape or variations in jaw size.
Although dental malocclusion can afflict any dog or cat, it is more common in purebred dogs. Malocclusions caused by bone deformity and irregular jaw size are genetic and should not be bred.
What are the classes of malocclusions?
Class I
The mandible and maxilla are the same lengths in this form of malocclusion, but one or more teeth are misplaced. This is frequently the consequence of injury altering the eruption of deciduous or permanent teeth or dental overcrowding. A tooth might be misaligned entirely, as in the case of a supernumerary tooth, or it may be slanted in an aberrant direction.
Class II
This happens when the maxilla is longer than the mandible. This can happen unilaterally (on one side) or bilaterally (on both sides). If left without treatment, this malocclusion might establish an oronasal fistula. The injury can be severe and unpleasant, causing mouth pain and dysfunction indicators.
Class III
This happens when the mandible is longer than the maxilla. This type of skeletal malocclusion is frequently linked with a reverse scissor occlusion (anterior crossbite – the mandibular incisors occlude rostral to the maxillary incisors). The mandibular canine teeth may occlude directly with or rostral to the maxillary third incisors. This malocclusion is considered “typical” in brachycephalic breeds.
Class IV
Class IV malocclusions are less common and are frequently referred to as “wry bites.” In this malocclusion, one side of the jaw is longer than the maxilla, and the other is shorter. These malocclusions are occasionally developmental, but we encounter them more frequently due to trauma or procedures in which a portion of the jaw has been removed.
When does malocclusion require emergency care?
If a puppy or kitten’s jaws do not mature properly, sharp teeth may pierce the delicate soft tissues in the mouth rather than interlocking naturally. Some of these disorders necessitate the service of a dog emergency vet to alleviate discomfort, ensure comfortable occlusion, and prevent consequences to surrounding tissues.
Diagnosis
Routine veterinary dental services are often used to identify tooth malocclusion. When you bring your pet for treatments like cat teeth cleaning or dog gum care, your dentist will examine your pet’s teeth and may take dental X-rays to assess if their teeth are correctly aligned. If your puppy dentist discovers malocclusion, they will classify it according to its kind and severity.
Diagnosis of malocclusion and the formulation of an effective treatment strategy are dependent on a precise evaluation of occlusion. At six months, we anticipate that a complete set of permanent teeth will replace all deciduous teeth. The assessment from a reliable dog veterinarian is crucial for the early identification of afflicted animals. Visit websites like veterinarymedicalcenterca.com for a trusted veterinary facility.
Treatment
The following remedies may be applicable depending on the location of the damage to the trauma-inducing tooth:
- Removal of the affected deciduous (baby) tooth/teeth. The adult counterpart of this tooth may or may not constitute a future problem.
- Permanent (adult) tooth/teeth extraction
- Orthodontic treatment is used to move the problematic tooth or teeth.
- Taking out the problematic tooth or teeth. The crown of the tooth can be excised in certain circumstances. This method is more challenging since the root must be carefully safeguarded throughout the procedure.
Key Takeaways
- A precise interdigitation and link between maxillary and mandibular teeth are connected with normal occlusion.
- Malocclusion refers to a misaligned connection between the maxillary and mandibular teeth.
- Malocclusion can be asymptomatic or cause many symptoms.
- Therapy choices for troublesome teeth include movement, removal or partial amputation, and endodontic treatment.
