Possible causes for a missing tooth include congenital absence (never formed), non-eruption (present below the gum line but didn't come in), or tooth defects/malformation. Anytime a missing tooth is discovered, an intra-oral radiograph (x-ray) is indicated. Because anesthesia is needed to obtain good...
Tooth resorption occurs when an animal's tooth is attacked by its own body and undergoes disintegration. Tooth resorption usually originates below the gum line, but is not visualized until it spreads to above the gum line. This condition occurs in many animal species, but most...
Enamel dysplasia literally means that the enamel, the outside layer of the tooth, did not form properly during development. It is either caused by enamel hypoplasia or hypocalcification. It can occur either on a few teeth or can affect the whole mouth. Teeth will often...
Just like in people, carious lesions (cavities) can occur in dogs and rarely in cats. The most commonly affected teeth are the back molars. Like human teeth, dog molars have a relatively flat chewing surface, with deep pits and fissures. Bacteria can invade the tooth...
Attrition is the physical wear of teeth as a result of heavy chewing, biting, or wearing against other teeth (like with orthodontic malocclusion). Teeth with attrition appear shortened in height. Skin allergies and resultant chewing may cause attrition of the incisors (front teeth). Tennis balls and...
Contact mucositis is also known as Chronic Ulcerative Paradental Syndrome (CUPS). It is characterized by "kissing lesions" - red, inflamed, ulcerative lesions at the inner cheek lining and sometimes tongue edges. It is comparable to a "contact allergy" one might see elsewhere in the body...
Luxations and avulsions of the teeth occur when the tooth is dislocated or displaced from its normal position, usually a result of trauma. Most often trauma occurs from inadvertent baseball bat or golf club swings, animal fights, or after a pet is hit by a...
Sealants Applications of sealants help protect teeth that are compromised by uncomplicated fracture or enamel defects (like enamel hypoplasia). Sealants provide temporary protection for weeks to months until a tooth can seal itself permanently. All sealants are eventually lost. When a sealant is placed,...
A crown, or cap, is a protective covering that is placed over a tooth. In veterinary dentistry, crowns are typically made from metal. The primary objective of the crown is to provide protection and maintain function. Most crowns are placed on fractured teeth, previously treated...
In cases in which orthodontic repositioning and extraction are not feasible, crown height reduction and vital pulp therapy (VP) may be an option. A classic example is the young dog or cat with a severe overbite dentition, i.e. the upper jaw is excessively...
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