Orthodontics For Pets
Contents - General Information About Orthodontic Treatment For Your Dog, Cat and Pets
It is important for pet owners to maintain the health of their pets' teeth. An animal's well-being can be greatly compromised by an improper bite and poorly aligned teeth, also known as malocclusion. Often, dental extractions are seen as the only solution, however, for many animals, orthodontic braces could provide a more effective remedy.
Malocclusion is is a common problem for pets, and can have numerous causes. Genetics, tooth or jaw trauma (often caused by tug-a-war games), nutrition and retained baby teeth can all lead to this condition. Maligned teeth can cause pain and health problems, including oral infection, damage to the gums, excessive wear on teeth that can lead to tooth fractures and exposed nerves, and pain in the jaw joints, cheeks, lips, and teeth. In more serious situations, untreated traumatic malocclusion can cause the spread of infection to major bodily organs. Symptoms of malocclusion are often facial asymmetry, abnormally long upper and lower jaws, facial pain, and the biting the roof of the mouth when closing.
Malocclusion is a condition that is best treated early, and bite evaluations by a dental veterinarian during a pet's first six months of life can allow for the most effective diagnosis and intervention. Veterinary orthodontics is a fast growing area in animal health care, and is in many ways different from the type of dentistry performed on humans. The roots of animals' teeth are much longer than that of humans, and their teeth emerge much more rapidly. Because of this, animal teeth can be moved quickly, usually in less than six months. In very young animals, teeth can be moved in as little as two weeks. Many pets will not require a full set of braces, and may only have a small set of braces that crosses over one or two teeth. Often a retainer is not required, and when it is, it is usually only for a short period of time. While more expensive than the cost of extracting teeth, braces for animals are about half the cost of human braces.
While braces can allow for the successful treatment of maligned teeth, it's important to first consider whether your pet is a good candidate for this type of device and procedure. An animal's disposition, and chewing habits need to be taken into consideration. The most common problem is irritation to the cheeks and gums by the braces, and owners need to decide how well they think their pets will tolerate this discomfort. Some animals may fixate on the device and paw at their mouths to the point where the appliance becomes damaged or removed. Since young dogs explore the world with their mouth, they need to be closely monitored to prevent damage from occurring to the braces.
The owner's willingness and ability to commit to the effort needed to achieve successful results also needs to be considered. Frequent visits to the veterinary orthodontist are necessary to avoid complications and to monitor progress. Food is often trapped by the braces, and daily cleaning of the teeth and device is essential. Owners must also learn how to periodically make minor adjustments to the braces, and to be on the lookout for infection and irritation.
Healthy teeth play an important role in the quality of an animal's life. Orthodontic braces may be the answer to a pet's dental problems, and is often worth looking into.
