BITES, BRACKETS BANDS BRACES FOR DOGS

She had heard of it but didn't think she'd ever do it. Do what?

"Get braces for my dog," said Cherie Grant, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, whose Papillon, Lilly, had one tooth turning into the roof and another sticking out the side of her mouth.

Until recently, Lily would have had to have her misplaced teeth pulled to correct the problem. Now, just like kids with crooked teeth, dogs can also receive orthodontic treatment - the correction of misaligned teeth using appliances, such as braces, bands or retainers.

Lily's teeth appeared as if they would cause discomfort. "I didn't want Lily to have pain," Grant said, "And I thought she needed every tooth she had so I decided, 'we'll get braces'."

Grant consulted Dr. Jan Bellows, a local veterinarian and Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC), who examined Lily's mouth and took photos. Because the Papillon was healthy and her condition was correctable, Grant elected to continue with the procedure.

"She had a little discomfort when the braces were first put on and the evenings after they were tightened. She would come home and cry a little. My mom would sit in a chair, and rock her and sing to her to make her feel better," said Grant, "Then by the following morning she would be fine."

Lily's life didn't change much because of her braces, except for the routines required to maintain them. "I had to brush her teeth and that wasn't easy. She was a handful," Grant said, "Otherwise, you wouldn't have known she had braces unless you pulled up her mouth to see."

After eight months, Lily's braces were removed and her teeth were in proper position. Although it cost her nearly $900, "it was something Lily needed, it wasn't a luxury," Grant said, "Crooked teeth can make you feel badly and you feel better when they're fixed. I'm glad I had it done."

Fixing Lily's teeth had the added benefit of improving her appearance too, but that wasn't the reason for using braces on the dog. "It's not to give them a nice smile, like in people. We're trying to place the teeth in proper position and provide the dog with a functional bite," said Dr. Bellows, "When a dog has a functional bite, they will keep their teeth longer and be healthier."

How can an owner tell if their dog's bite is incorrect or causing problems? If individual teeth are not obviously misaligned, it may be more difficult to detect.

"Dogs rarely show clinical signs. Most cases are referred from veterinarians who notice a problem during an examination. Some dogs have problems eating, or pain when they open their mouth; sometimes the only sign is excessive wear on the teeth,"said Dr. Steven E. Holmstrom, a veterinarian in San Carlos, California and a Diplomate of the AVDC.

Dr Bellows explained that in more noticeable or severe cases, "Abnormal teeth may puncture the gums, there may be inflammation, bleeding, loss of appetite, loose teeth or bad breath. Most times the owner won't notice anything because the dog has learned to live with the discomfort. This is not okay."

Owners who suspect their dog might be suffering from a malocclusion (bad bite) or orthodontic disease should contact their veterinarian for an exam and referral to a veterinary dentist. Once the dog has been examined, treatment options are discussed. In many cases, orthodontic appliances will provide the best long-term results. Orthodontics for strictly cosmetic reasons will not qualify a dog for treatment, and, malocclusions that are a result of skeletal problems, such as an overshot jaw, cannot be treated with dental devices.

If a dog has a problem that can be corrected and is healthy enough to undergo treatment, the dental vet begins by taking x-rays. Next, the dog is placed under anesthesia to allow an impression mold of his mouth to be made. The mold is sent to a laboratory that makes dental appliances. When the device comes back, the dog is again anesthetized, the appliance cemented into their mouth, brackets cemented on the teeth to be moved and brackets placed onto rubber bands.

After the braces are in place, dogs need to visit the dental vet every seven to 14 days to be re-checked and have their rubber bands changed or the brackets adjusted. Additional adjustments may need to be done every two or three days by the owner. An antiseptic spray must be applied to the mouth every day to prevent plaque build-up.

"All these dogs require daily tooth-brushing to keep the appliance clean," Dr. Holmstrom said, "It's not one of those things where we place the appliance and forget about it."

With all the effort needed to monitor and maintain the braces, "It takes devotion from the owner," said Michelle Grossman, Miami, Florida. Grossman, whose Rottweiler, Diesel, was an orthodontic patient for 18 months, said she soaked his kibble for 15 minutes in warm water to soften it prior to each meal.

Dental vets also instruct owners to avoid high-fiber or hard foods and take away chew toys to prevent damage to or loss of the dental device. Long-haired dogs who chew on themselves frequently, may need to wear an Elizabethan collar to keep their braces from getting caught. Occasionally a bracket may pull out and need to be re-applied. Owners must monitor their dogs for irritated lips and inflammation or infection around the appliance.

A commitment to the extensive care and frequent vet appointments must be made by owners for a period of several months. Dental appliances will need to be in place for at least two- to four-months and possibly longer.

Then there's the cost, which averages around $1,200-$1,500 but can run as high as $2,000 or more. "Braces are such a large expense," Grossman said, "And I had to ask myself if it would be fair and humane? My only concern was for Diesel's comfort."

Diesel "was great" during the time he wore braces to prevent a lower tooth from putting a hole in the roof of his mouth. Grossman noted, "His only problem from the braces was the first day when he couldn't close his mouth all the way. After 24 hours, he didn't notice that the braces were there and was totally himself."

While Diesel had his braces, he became so used to having his mouth opened that "he would almost lift his lips for people to see," said Grossman, "He even appeared on the Petsburgh USA show where they shot a close up of his braces."

At first Grossman said she had wondered if it would be easier to cut Diesel's tooth but, "In the end, I chose to do what was best for my dog."

Despite the high price tag and intense effort, most orthodontic applications for dogs achieve a more functional and comfortable bite. Plus, braces offer the advantage of allowing a dog to keep his teeth. "Was all of it worthwhile? Yes," Grossman said," Braces for dogs are a wonderful innovation."

Is Your Dog A Candidate For Braces?

* Dental veterinarians perform orthodontic treatment only if the malocclusion causes discomfort for the patient and if the patient medically benefits.

* Advantages of the planned treatment must outweigh the disadvantages, such as repeated administration of anesthesia.

* Conditions that may benefit from orthodontic treatment include: over-, under- or cross-bites; trauma; retained baby teeth; hereditary conditions.
(Dental veterinarians also explain to the client the possible hereditary nature of malocclusion. Genetic counseling may be advised since dogs that are used for breeding purposes may pass the genes for some dental conditions to their offspring. Sterilization may be recommended.)

* Orthodontic treatment is not performed for the purpose of deceiving others or for cosmetic reasons. Owners of conformation dogs who have had orthodontics and continue to show, may be in violation of kennel club regulations and subject to penalties.

* The main reason for orthodontic treatment of dogs is the ultimate well-being of the patient.

BITES, BRACKETS & BANDS: BRACES FOR DOGS

BITES, BRACKETS & BANDS:
BRACES FOR DOGS