Dental Problems - Retained baby teeth in dogs and cats

Like people, dogs and cats have 2 sets of teeth in their lifetime. The first set is usually called the baby teeth, although they may also be known as milk teeth, deciduous teeth, primary teeth, or puppy or kitten teeth. The second set is the permanent or adult teeth. Dogs normally have 28 baby teeth and 42 permanent teeth while cats have 26 baby and 30 permanent teeth. In most dogs and cats, the baby teeth will have been replaced by adult teeth when the animal reaches 6-7 months of age.

Normally, the roots of the baby teeth are resorbed by the body as the adult teeth are erupting, so that the baby teeth fall out before the adult teeth come in. However in some cases something goes wrong with this resorption process and the baby tooth does not fall out but instead remains firmly in the jaw. When this happens, two teeth will try to occupy the same spot in the mouth, causing abnormal crowding,

The baby tooth that has not fallen out is called a ‘retained deciduous tooth' or ‘retained baby tooth' and it inevitably causes dental problems. The most common teeth to be retained are the canine teeth (fangs) and the incisors.

A retained tooth can cause several different problems in the mouth, depending on which tooth Is retained. It may cause the developing permanent tooth to erupt at an abnormal angle or in an abnormal position. It may interfere with the normal growth and development of the bones in the jaw. It may put pressure on other teeth in the mouth, pushing the other teeth out of alignment and/or causing abnormal wear. It may force the adult tooth to grow into the hard palate or roof of the mouth causing pain and making it difficult for the pet to eat. Food and debris can become trapped between the crowded teeth, leading to early onset of gingivitis and periodontitis, with premature loss of permanent teeth.

Surgical extraction of any retained deciduous teeth is recommended as soon as the problem is identified. Early removal allows the adult teeth to move into their normal positions preventing malocclusion problems. Extraction is a delicate procedure since the entire root of the retained tooth must be removed without damaging the root of the permanent tooth. The extraction should be done under general anesthesia. Special care is required during extraction of the baby teeth to prevent damage to the permanent tooth. If the retained tooth does not appear to be causing severe malocclusion, your veterinarian may recommend removing it at the time of your pet's routine spay or neuter. Late diagnosis or late removal of retained deciduous teeth may result in severe malocclusion problems. If this occurs, the pet may require extensive dental treatment to correct the problem.

If you have a kitten or puppy, it is important to examine your pet's mouth every week to ensure that the teeth are developing normally. If you suspect that your pet has a retained tooth, or if notice anything unusual, consult our veterinary team and we will arrange for an oral examination as soon as possible.

Caution: These news items, written by Lifelearn Inc., are licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written permission of Lifelearn Inc. Please note that the news information presented here is NOT a substitute for a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by our clinic veterinarian.