informed consent RETAINED DECIDUOUS TEETH

[malernee]

RETAINED DECIDUOUS TEETH

General Information
The deciduous (baby or temporary) teeth are smaller than the permanent teeth. As the animal grows and the jaw becomes larger, the baby teeth are shed. Normally, the baby tooth is lost before the permanent tooth appears. Occasionally, the root of a baby tooth is not resorbed and the tooth remains "anchored" within the tooth socket.
Retention of baby teeth favors tartar accumulation, which may lead to more serious gum disease. Also it may cause an abnormal bite (malocclusion). For this reason, retained baby teeth should be extracted as early as possible.
The Dog
The deciduous (baby or temporary) teeth of dogs erupt (appear) as early as 2 weeks of age, and all 28 temporary teeth should be visible by 8 weeks of age. After 8 weeks of age, shedding of the temporary teeth begins and continues until around 6 months of age. All adult or permanent teeth should be in full view by 8 months of age.
The Cat
The deciduous teeth of cats erupt as early as 2 weeks of age, and all 26 temporary teeth should be visible by 7 weeks of age. By 7 months of age, all 30 permanent teeth should be in full view.
Retained Deciduous Teeth

Retained upper canine
tooth
Normally the deciduous tooth's root is resorbed, making room for an adult tooth. Should this fail, the adult tooth may deviate from it's normal position, producing malocclusion. The resulting double set of teeth overcrowds the dental arch, causing food to become trapped between the teeth, leading to early periodontal disease. A double set of roots may also prevent normal development of the socket, and erode periodontal support around the adult tooth, resulting in early tooth loss. A retained deciduous tooth should be extracted as soon as an adult tooth is noted in the same area as the baby tooth. If extraction is performed early, the abnormally positioned adult tooth usually moves to it's normal location.

A procedure performed by some breeders is to trim or cut deciduous teeth in hopes that they will be shed early preventing orthodontic problems. By cutting the tooth in half, pulp is exposed to oral bacteria causing infection, pain, and tooth loss. Unfortunately, the remaining infected root can interfere with the emerging adult tooth, which may not come in normally.