Promotion of Dental Pulp Wound Healing in New Zealand White Rabbits' Teeth by Thai Propolis Product.

This study examined and compared wound healing between Thai propolis product and calcium hydroxide paste as pulp-capping agents after partial pulpotomy in New Zealand white rabbits. Forty incisor teeth from 10 rabbits were treated. Thirty-six teeth received class V cavity preparations with partial pulpotomy and application of either propolis or calcium hydroxide paste. Similar cavity preparations were performed in 2 teeth without any capping material as a positive control, whereas 2 teeth without the cavity preparation served as a negative control. Histological evaluation showed that both groups had dentin bridge formation. Dentinal tubules in the dentin bridge were more orderly arranged in the Thai propolis group than in the calcium hydroxide group. Wound healing and the median number of hyperemic blood vessels were not statistically significant different between the 2 groups. Thai propolis product may be used as a pulp-capping agent.

Results of crown-height reduction and partial coronal pulpectomy in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In research facilities using non-human primates, crown-height reduction with partial coronal pulpectomy ("vital pulpotomy") is routinely performed on canine teeth of adult male monkeys to reduce self-trauma and the potential for injury to staff or cage-mates. Success of pulpotomy techniques in humans is reportedly 40 to 60%. Failure leads to chronic inflammation and pulp necrosis, which introduces variability in research animals, and may affect research results. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine failure rate of this procedure by evaluating clinical and radiographic findings at 3, 9, and 24 months after crown amputation and partial coronal pulpectomy of maxillary canines in adult male rhesus monkeys. METHODS: Forty-seven maxillary canine teeth from 24 adult male rhesus monkeys were treated by use of crown amputation and partial coronal pulpectomy, using standard dental technique. Follow-up clinical and radiographic examination was performed 3, 9, and 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: At three months after surgery, there was no clinical evidence of failure at any of the teeth. On the basis of radiographic findings, 2 of 47 teeth had failed and one was suspicious for early failure. At nine months, clinical evidence of failure was not apparent; radiographically, 5 of 44 teeth appeared to have failed and 3 others were suspect. Two years post-operatively, failure was clinically evident at two teeth, with radiographic evidence of failure in five teeth, and suspicion of early failure in an additional six of 41 teeth [corrected]. CONCLUSIONS: The failure rate of crown amputation and partial coronal pulpectomy of canine teeth in adult male rhesus monkeys is high, and the chronic inflammation associated with this is cause for concern.

Treatment of asymptomatic internal resorption of a maxillary premolar tooth in a military working dog.

An asymptomatic pink discoloration of a maxillary right fourth premolar tooth was discovered during a routine oral examination on a 9 year-old Belgian Malinois dog. A radiolucent lesion was seen in the pulpal chamber on radiographic examination. The lesion had perforated the mesiobuccal root of the tooth. The primary differential diagnosis was idiopathic internal resorption. The tooth was treated by partial resection (removal of the mesiobuccal root and associated crown). A vital pulpotomy and amalgam restoration was performed on the remaining tooth structure. A follow-up 1 year later demonstrated a successful treatment outcome. The animal was asymptomatic and able to perform military duties. Clinical and radiographic signs of healing were evident and the tooth was functional.

Multiple oral procedures performed on a dog with distemper myoclonus.

A 3-year-old male mixed-breed dog was treated for an oral defect along the rostral portion of the hard palate and an oronasal fistula secondary to a severe mandibular brachygnathism and persistent canine distemper virus associated myoclonus. This report describes the treatment using a bilateral radical premaxillectomy, oronasal fistula repair, and pulpotomy.

Crown reduction--disarming of biting pets.

Crown reduction is a sterile endodontic procedure indicated for reducing the crown height of teeth. The procedure is used primarily on canine teeth as a disarming technique in aggressive biting pets or to treat traumatic occlusion. Recommendations for using this technique for biting pets are described.

Endodontics.

It is known that pets with broken teeth or teeth with other diseases of the pulp suffer considerable pain and frequent infection. To ignore these problem teeth would not only be inhumane, it would risk chronic infection, abscessation, and tooth loss. Although extraction of these teeth is sometimes necessary, the procedure is often difficult to perform and painful for the animal. The resultant tooth loss is cosmetically displeasing and, frequently, there is compromise in function. The endodontic treatment of these teeth, on the other hand, is relatively easy to perform. It almost always results in immediate cessation of pain and will usually allow the tooth to remain functional for the lifetime of the pet.

Pulpotomy as an alternative to canine tooth extraction in monkeys [Macaca mulatta].

An effective method for sealing pulp canals after partial removal of canine tooth crowns from adult rhesus monkeys is described.