Overshot jaw.

RE: Overshot jaw.

Claire Godfrey — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 18:37:36 GMT

Thank you all very much. Removed the deciduous canines on monday. Saw him back today and owners are noticing he can now sleep with his mouth closed and drink standing up! Doing well currently and will see what happens when adult teeth emerge.

RE: Overshot jaw.

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 19:36:31 GMT

[quote userid="2792" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/dentistry/f/expert-help/30007/overshot-jaw/233290#233290"]It was the jaw being overshot that threw me.[/quote]

Threw you over, as it were?

Yes... being overshot is one of the possible causes of lingual deviation of lower canines.

RE: Overshot jaw.

Claire Godfrey — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 18:01:49 GMT

Thank you all very much.

It was the jaw being overshot that threw me.

RE: Overshot jaw.

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 17:50:47 GMT

[quote userid="2792" url="~/001/veterinary-clinical/small-animal/dentistry/f/expert-help/30007/overshot-jaw"]I know photos are difficult but wanted to check on the best course of action. I think it is to remove his deciduous canines, try ball therapy and see where the adult canines end up. If causing issues tooth shortening and capping?[/quote]

Well... yes! You got it.

There are two good reasons to remove the deciduous canines. One is that they are traumatising the tissues of the upper jaw and, as in this case, may be uncomfortable. The second reason is that once they have dug pits in the upper jaw they are locked in that occlusion and this may lock the relation of lower to upper jaw and restrict the growth of the lower. Another reason often quoted is that by their presence they influence the eruption angle of the permanent teeth – I find this a very dubious hypothesis.

For practical reasons I would suggest not delaying but starting ball play as soon as you've removed the milk teeth. It may not have any effect until the permanent canines have started to erupt. but it will get the dog accustomed to ball play so that it's already a regular activity by the time it's needed.

Ball play is variable in its effects – not every dog will take to it or do it energetically enough.

If the permanent teeth end up definitely angled lingually, there is a choice between tooth shortening and orthodontic movement. There are pros and cons to both. That's another discussion!

As for extraction technique: review the anatomy and be sure ofthe root shape and where the permanent buds are. Use sharp luxators of suitable size. When the attachment has been severed sufficiently that you can wriggle the tooth with your fingers and a little frothy blood pumps out, you can go to forceps and rotate the tooth back and forth onthe long axis of the root – be sure you know the angle of this axis! – while simultaneously pulling.

If you are not confident about the "closed" extraction, use the "open" (or "surgical") technique. It's more time consuming and involves suturing, but relies less on experience and sensitivity for safety.

RE: Overshot jaw.

Norman Johnston — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 16:53:58 GMT

www.dentalvets.co.uk/.../lingually-displaced-canines

RE: Undershot jaw.

Rob Davis — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 15:59:00 GMT

As you said, extraction of deciduous mandibular canines should be done ASAP.

Ball therapy can be very useful in the correct situations, but there is no point starting that at this stage. Once the deciduous canines (and possibly incisors) have been extracted I would normally leave alone until the adult canines are erupting (at around 6 months old). The treatment available from there will depend on the position and orientation of the permanent teeth and the relative maxilla/mandible lengths. Ball therapy may be appropriate (but not necessarilly), crown reduction and vital pulp therapy, orthodontic movement of teeth, gingivoplasty/alveoplasty (and of course selective extractions....) may all be possible depending on how things look at the time.

If you are extracting the decidous teeth yourself, make sure you have taken radiographs and know the exact positions of the developing permanent teeth. These are very vulnerable to trauma at this stage and enamel damage is a commonly seen complication.

RE: Undershot jaw.

Claire Godfrey — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 15:43:29 GMT

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