The persistence of deciduous teeth in dogs and cats and its consequences

The persistence of deciduous teeth is a common occurrence in small breeds of dogs, although this anomaly may be found in all breeds. Despite the fact that the exact etiopathogenesis is unknown, hereditary transmission is one of the most probable causes in certain breeds. The retaining of the deciduous tooth causes malalignment of the adult tooth. Depending upon the teeth and the breeds of animal involved, this will result in more or less pronounced malocclusion. The treatment consists in extracting the deciduous tooth and subsequently correcting the malocclusion. Orthodontic treatment or palliative endodontic treatment may be applied. The prevention of malocclusions calls for the extraction of the persistent deciduous teeth as soon as the adult tooth breaks through the gum.