Molar teeth: extraction

• Permanent treatment of individual maloccluding or diseased cheek teeth Dental malocclusion / overgrowth which either fail to respond to repeated attempts at correction, cannot be corrected due to severity of dental disease or are involved in abscessation.

Uses

• Removal of loose teeth.
• Removal of teeth that have deviated beyond repair so causing trauma to soft tissues and have no apparent useful function.
• Removal of infected teeth involved in abscessation .

Advantages

• Should not need to be repeated.
• Prevents damage and discomfort secondary to malocclusion.
• Loose crowns can sometimes be easily removed via the mouth.

Disadvantages

• If tooth root apex not removed, tooth can regrow and technique will have to be repeated.
• Requires patience and knowledge of normal anatomy of teeth and soft tissues.
• May require extraoral technique (ventral mandibular or lateral buccotomy) as oral aperture is so small.
• Iatrogenic jaw fracture can occur if bone is compromised.

Alternative techniques

• Frequent tooth trimming with dental burr under anesthetic Dentistry (clipping / filing).
• Euthanasia Euthanasia.

Procedure

• Depends on competence of vet, availability of the correct, quality, sharp instruments and choice of technique; extraoral technique takes longer.

Decision taking

Criteria for choosing test

• Severe malocclusion Dental malocclusion / overgrowth or abscessation involving one or more teeth.
• Poor response to, or poor candidate for, repeated cheek tooth shortening.

Risk assessment

• Assuming complete veterinary competence, the anesthetic risk is directly proportional to body condition.
• In animals who are not eating due to incisor problems alone, trimming and supportive nutrition prior to anesthesia and removal is advised.