Oral and periodontal tissue. Maintenance, augmentation, rejuvenation, and regeneration

Visual and histological evaluation of the effects of trafermin in a dog oronasal fistula model

The standard procedure to treat oronasal fistula in dogs requires tooth extraction to close the fistula; hence, the subject would lose its tooth. In this study, trafermin was applied to four dog models with oronasal fistula to investigate the periodontal tissue regenerative effects of trafermin in the treatment without tooth extraction. A fistula was created along the palatal side of each upper canine tooth. One of the fistulae was filled with trafermin, whereas that on the contralateral side was left unfilled as a control. The results showed a significant decrease in the non-calcified periodontal tissue volume on the trafermin side after the fourth week. In addition, oronasal fistula closure was visually and histologically confirmed at the eighth week on the trafermin side of all four models.

Evaluation of an Osseous Allograft Membrane for Guided Tissue Regeneration in the Dog

Clinical application of a demineralized freeze-dried cortical bone membrane allograft (DFBMA) for treatment of intra(infra)bony periodontal pockets in dogs was evaluated. The mean pre-treatment periodontal probing depth equaled 7.2-mm. Post-treatment probing depths in all 11 cases were normal, with a mean periodontal probing gain of 5.4-mm. Guided tissue regeneration using a commercially available veterinary canine DFBMA and canine demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) resulted in clinically significant periodontal attachment gains. The gain of new periodontal tissue attachment was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The commercially available veterinary allograft products predictably increased new periodontal attachment without any identified membrane sequelae in these 11 cases.

Odontogenic Cysts in Three Dogs: One Odontogenic Keratocyst and Two Dentigerous Cysts

Odontogenic cysts, which showed cystic radiolucency in the jaw bone by radiographic examination and computed tomography, were enucleated by operation in 3 dogs. One dog had a odontogenic keratocyst in the incisive bone of the right maxilla and another 2 cases revealed dentigerous cysts in the mandible. These cyst walls were enucleated or transpired by semiconductor laser. Afterwards, osteogenesis was confirmed at the defective part of jaw bone by extirpation of the cyst in all cases, and no recurrence has been noted in any cases. Odontogenic cyst is a disease which should be treated by surgical extirpation or transpiration.

Exotic placental carnivore dentistry

Dentistry in exotic carnivores is becoming more common as their level of care is enhanced. These cases present many interesting challenges, but adaptation of currently accepted dental procedures, use of newly developed instrumentation, and educated improvisation can handle almost any situation that a practitioner might encounter. It must be kept in mind, however, that there are virtually no medications, medicaments, or drugs that are approved for treatment of the various exotic carnivores. Therefore, the treatments that are discussed in this article should all be considered as "off label" use, and be reviewed closely before being applied to patients.

Endodontic disease of the mandibular first molar tooth secondary to caudal crossbite in a young Shetland sheepdog

A six month-old intact female Shetland sheepdog was referred to the University of Illinois Veterinary Dental Clinic with a left-sided mandibular deviation and a thickened left ventral mandible in the region of the first molar tooth. On oral examination, left caudal crossbite was diagnosed. Dental radiographs revealed endodontic disease of the mandibular first molar tooth involved in the crossbite. Because of the difficulty of treating caudal crossbite and the potential of a pathological mandibular fracture, the endodontically affected tooth was extracted. Ten months following the extraction, mandibular deviation and alveolar bone lysis were resolved, but alveolar ridge resorption was present. The abnormal occlusal relationship caused by the caudal crossbite may have led to movement of the tooth, resorption of the tooth alveolus, and irreversible pulpal damage. Although not employed in this case, use of alveolar ridge preservation techniques can prevent mandibular bone loss after extractions.