A condition seen in puppies where the gum tissue (gingiva) is thickened. This condition causes problems when the thickened gums prevents or delays teeth eruption. This condition is most common in Soft Coated Wheaton terriers, Tibetan Terriers, Lhasa apsos, Havanese, and Portugese Water Dogs. It's...
Some immature cats display pronounced inflammation of the gums that has not spread to the back of the mouth called feline juvenile gingivitis. Causes may include exaggerated inflammation at the time of tooth eruption, viral exposure (FeLV, FIV, Calici), immune-mediated disorders, or mixture of reasons. If...
During development, incomplete closure of the palate, the tissue on the upper jaw, may result in an open defect or cleft palate. Occasionally when the cleft palate was caused by a developmental problem, a malformed nose may also be present (cleft nares). Developmental clefts palates...
Supernumerary, or extra, teeth may or may not result in secondary problems. The most common problems that may occur because of supernumerary teeth include orthodontic malocclusion or crowding of teeth. Supernumerary teeth should be radiographed (x-rayed) to make sure they are healthy and not causing...
Craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO) is usually seen in young, growing West Highland White, Scottish, and Cairn Terriers. This condition presents as swelling of the lower jaw (mandible). Diagnostics, including blood work, jaw x-rays, and biopsy, help rule out other causes for jaw swelling. The condition resolves...
Persistent or retained deciduous (baby) teeth occurs when the baby teeth do not fall out when they are scheduled to. Often times, you can often see the baby teeth in place right on top of the adult teeth. Causes include genetic, nutritional, or hormonal reasons....
Delayed eruption refers to a condition in which teeth don't appear on schedule (see below). This could occur with the late appearance of baby (deciduous) teeth or adult (permanent) teeth. A delay in tooth appearance should be differentiated from tooth absence ( Missing Teeth...
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...