Treatment of Worn Tusks Using Metal Crowns in Two Young Captive Walruses (Odobenus Rosmarus).

Two young walruses, recently transferred to the Vancouver Aquarium, presented with severe abrasion to their tusks. The walruses were sedated, and clinical examination and radiographs of the tusks showed that the pulp chambers were not exposed. The tips of the tusks were then prepared to receive metal crowns. Vinyl polysiloxane impressions were obtained and sent to the laboratory for chrome-nickel crown fabrication. A week later, the crowns were cemented onto the tusks and remained in place on follow-up examinations.

Anatomy of the Brachycephalic Canine Hard Palate and Treatment of Acquired Palatitis Using CO2 Laser.

The goal of this article is to review the anatomy of the brachycephalic canine hard palate and provide a step-by-step guide on diagnosis and treatment of acquired palatitis using the CO2 surgical laser. Brachycephalic breed-related defects are not only limited to the upper airways, some dogs may develop secondary systemic or localized problems. An abnormality that is over-represented in some breeds such as boxers and bulldogs is prominent palatal rugae. The greater depth of the palatal rugae allows for the entrapment of plaque, food debris and hair. Thus, acquired palatitis or granulomatous lesions may develop. This oral pathology and its consequences are commonly neglected by the owners and frequently missed by the veterinarians. Scientific evidence-based diagnosis and treatment for this breed-related oral pathology are absent in the veterinary literature. This article is the first in providing the elements needed for an adequate morphological characterization of the canine hard palate, allowing veterinarians to appropriately identify anomalous areas of the soft tissue component of the hard palate. This article illustrates the use of a noninvasive surgical technique to prevent and cure the sequelae associated with anomalous palatal rugae. The CO2 surgical laser provides a suitable method by offering the fast resolution of the lesions and permanent results.

Malignant Transformation of a Canine Papillomavirus Type 1-Induced Persistent Oral Papilloma in a 3-Year-Old Dog.

This case report describes a rare case of a persistent canine papillomavirus type 1 (CPV-1)-induced oral papilloma that underwent malignant transformation into an oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in a 3-year-old Labrador retriever cross. Initially, the patient had multiple and multifocal verrucous lesions populating the oral cavity exclusively. The papillomas persisted despite multiple surgical ablations, azithromycin, interferon α-2b, alternative medicines, and off-label drug use of an immunostimulant. After 1 year and 6 months, an aggressive lesion developed at the level of the left mandibular first molar (309) and progressed to a well-differentiated invasive OSCC. The presence of CPV-1 DNA in the OSCC, and the known oncogenic abilities of CPV-1, suggests that this virus might have played a significant role in the emergence of the OSCC that ultimately led to the patient's euthanasia due to poor quality of life. This is the first well-documented case where OSCC has developed from an oral papilloma caused by CPV-1 in which the presence of coinfection by another papillomavirus was excluded by multiple polymerase chain reaction tests using various primers.

Full-Mouth Intraoral Radiographic Survey in Rabbits.

Dental pathologies are highly prevalent in pet rabbit populations, making oral radiography an essential tool in the evaluation of lagomorph dentitions. The unique anatomy of the rabbit's mouth limits the examination of the conscious animal to the rostral portion of it's mouth. In addition, the oral examination of an aradicular hypsodont tooth is restricted to the short coronal fraction of its crown. Erstwhile images obtained by the extraoral technique were once considered the most practical and informative tool in rabbit dentistry; however, limited visualization of the key structures of individual teeth became the major drawback of this technique. As new imaging technologies are becoming widely available and affordable for veterinarians, intraoral radiography offers the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat oral pathologies in lagomorphs. This article describes a step-by-step procedure to obtain a full-mouth radiographic survey in rabbits. For this technique, a standard dental X-ray generator and intraoral storage phosphor plates are used while applying the bisecting angle technique. Among the advantages of this technique are detailed visualization of internal and external dental structures, identification of early lesions, and detection of occult pathologies. Furthermore, intraoral images offer superior resolution and higher diagnostic quality with minimal radiation exposure, making this method safer for the veterinarian, staff members, and their patients.

Anatomy and Disorders of the Oral Cavity of Guinea Pigs.

Acquired dental disease represents the most common oral disorder of guinea pigs. Most patients are presented with nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms, such as weight loss, reduced food intake, difficulty chewing and/or swallowing. The physical examination must be followed by standard radiography and/or computed tomography, and thorough inspection under general anesthesia. Several complications may follow, including periodontal disease, subluxation of the temporomandibular joint, periapical infection, and abscessation. The dental treatment is aimed to restore the proper length and shape of both the incisor and cheek teeth, associated with medical and supportive treatment. Abscesses should be surgically addressed by complete excision.

Oronasal fistula repair using auricular cartilage.

Seven oronasal fistula lesions secondary to extraction of maxillary canine teeth were treated in 5 dogs using a cartilage graft harvested from the ipsilateral auricular pinna. All dogs had undergone previous, unsuccessful surgeries in attempt to repair the defects. The technique is described in a step-by-step fashion for easy reproduction. The authors found the technique to be straightforward, relatively quick, and successful in all 7 lesions.

Acquired myasthenia gravis associated with oral sarcoma in a dog.

Acquired myasthenia gravis is a common neuromuscular disorder resulting from autoantibody directed against the post-synaptic acetylcholine nicotinic receptors in skeletal muscle. Myasthenia gravis has been reported previously as a paraneoplastic syndrome. This case report presents myasthenia gravis secondary to an oral sarcoma in a juvenile Mastiffdog.

Maxillofacial fracture repairs.

Oral trauma remains a common presentation in a small animal practice. Most fractures are the result of vehicular accidents. Among other causes are falls, kicks, gunshots wounds, and encounters with various hard objects ranging from baseball bats and golf clubs to horse hooves and car doors. Next in popularity are dog fights, especially when a large dog and a small dog are involved, and fights with other animals. With cats, falls from various heights are responsible for a large percentage of presentations.

Intraoral acrylic splints for maxillofacial fracture repair.

Maxillofacial fractures in dogs and cats occur secondary to vehicular trauma, falls, kicks, gunshots, and fights with other animals. Pathologic mandibular fracture may occur secondary to periodontal disease, neoplasia, and metabolic diseases. The primary objective for repair of maxillofacial fractures in small animals is return to normal function. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain occlusal alignment while providing adequate stability for bony union. Basic principles of maxillofacial fracture repair include anatomic reduction and restoration of occlusion, application of a stable fixation to neutralize negative forces on the fracture, gentle handling of soft tissues, avoidance of iatrogenic dental trauma, extraction of diseased teeth within the fracture line, and minimizing excessive soft tissue elevation. This review article will describe the application of intraoral acrylic splints for maxillofacial fracture repair.

Oral disorders of exotic rodents.

Our dental knowledge of rodents is still patchy but their increasing popularity and advances in technology allow us to make good strides toward better understanding. Cutting incisors with nail clippers and treating incisor problems without examining cheek teeth is no longer acceptable. Good practice dictates that a thorough examination is performed, a diagnosis is made, and treatment is planned and executed appropriately. Dentistry is expanding at a tremendous rate; the next few years should provide plenty of opportunities to solve most of the remaining problems with dental disease in rodents.

Malocclusions in guinea pigs, chinchillas and rabbits.

The types of malocclusions encountered in rodents and lagomorphs are classified. Diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are reviewed. Some malocclusions are curable, whereas others can only be controlled. The need to perform a complete oral examination and to find a cause for the condition is stressed, as it will seriously affect the prognosis.