Cheek Teeth Malocclusion – Rabbit

The pressure of opposing cheek teeth leads to stoppage of growth and alteration in the pulp cavity, germinal tissues accentuates the hitherto normal angulation of the teeth. The rabbit’s cheek teeth are normally tilted: uppers, laterally towards the cheeks; lowers, medially towards the tongue. This is accentuated once the growth (germinal) tissues are affected. This also means that growth may stop – a very unnatural state of affairs for the species. Sometimes these abnormal growing patterns result in the formation of discrete spurs with extremely sharp edges.

The spurs can also lead to loosening of the teeth – lever effect.

Continuous growth and pressure against the crowns of the teeth in the opposing jaw stops the jaw closing and strains the masseter and temporalis muscles – a vicious cycle leading to atrophy of disuse of the jaw and a further reduction of bone density.

Periodontal resorption leads to a loss of the tooth crowns.