Gum Disease | Root Canal Therapy | Oral Surgery | Orthodontics | Oral Cancer | Crowns | Radiography
When teeth do not erupt appropriately, they can hit other teeth or soft tissues of the oral cavity. These are called malocclusions. Malocclusions can be caused by underlying genetic skeletal growth problems, or by non-genetic events such as trauma or retained baby teeth. Retained baby teeth are responsible for incorrectly guiding in the adult erupting tooth. Treatment calls for timely extraction of the retained baby tooth(s) in order to allow the incoming adult tooth to emerge properly.
If not corrected, malerupted teeth will traumatize newly emerging adult teeth causing them to move out of alignment and leading to their devitalization. In addition, the possibility exists that teeth inappropriately hitting the soft tissue of the hard palate will eventually create permanent holes into the nasal sinus. This may lead to chronic infections of the nose.
Because malocclusions can also be caused by underlying genetic causes, it is important, in any bite evaluation, to first rule out any genetic causes of the malocclusion. The problem seen in genetic defects, is that the jaw growth is responsible for carrying the teeth in their quadrant out of alignment. Therefore the jaw quadrants and their respective teeth must be viewed individually. If a genetic cause is present in breeding animals, it should be considered grounds to exclude them as potential breeders. However remember, not all malocclusions are genetic. Animals without genetic causes of malocclusion, do not pose problems to subsequent generations. The important concept in correcting a malocclusion is to give the animal a healthy bite, free of pain and chronic infections.
Mandibular Arch Bar
Purpose: Correction of the Central "dropped" incisors
The Appliance will extrude & Tip the lower incisors back
Maxillary Palatal Spring
Purpose: Correction of the Central "Cross Bite incisors
The Appliance will tip the upper Central incisors forward
Gum Disease | Root Canal Therapy | Oral Surgery | Orthodontics | Oral Cancer | Crowns | Radiography