Orthodontics: Dental Malocclusions
Animals can be born with poorly aligned teeth just like people, and sometimes these malocclusions can cause pain and a non-functional bite.
Animals can be born with poorly aligned teeth just like people, and sometimes these malocclusions can cause pain and a non-functional bite.
Sometimes teeth have to be extracted to achieve a pain-free, functional bite but orthodontic devices can be used to try and shift teeth to save as many teeth as possible. Orthodontics need to be attempted while the animal is still young and the teeth are erupting. The earlier a malocclusion is diagnosed, the better chance at successfully shifting teeth into place. Treatment often starts at 8-10 weeks with extraction of strategic baby teeth if the malocclusion is evident at that time.