Abnormal Wear of Teeth

• Abnormal wear of teeth in herbivores may result from irregular grinding of molars as well as from periodontal disease.
• Sharp edges usually form on the lingual aspect of the mandibular teeth and the buccal aspects of the maxillary molars and may cause quite severe oral lacerations.
  • The condition is sometimes known as “shear mouth”.

• Malocclusion of teeth may be acquired as a result of trauma and loss or displacement of teeth.
• It is particularly important in those teeth which continue to grow excessive growth, interference with prehension of food or even growth of the tooth into adjacent structures.
• Malocclusions in dogs and cats may arise from retention of deciduous teeth in the young animal.

• Malocclusion of teeth may also occur as a result of malformations of the jaws. The terminology used for these is rather confusing and the following should assist:
  • Prognathism is an abnormally long lower jaw.
  • A similar effect is produced by brachygnathia superior (ie short maxilla). Both conditions may be referred to as undershot jaw.
    • A typical breed affected is the Boxer.
  • Retrognathism is an unusually short lower jaw. This may also be called brachygnathia inferior (i.e. short mandible). The condition is referred to as overshot jaw or parrot mouth.
    • Typical breeds affected are the Borzoi or Rough Collie.