Dens Invaginatus of the Mandibular First Molars in a Dog

Intradental Displacement of a Deciduous Tooth Root in a Dog

This case study describes the diagnosis and treatment of a deciduous left maxillary canine tooth root that had been displaced into the pulp of the developing permanent left maxillary canine tooth in a 23-month-old female neutered Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The patient was initially presented for bilateral persistent deciduous maxillary canine teeth extraction. Seventeen months later the permanent left maxillary canine tooth was found to be non-vital and tooth development had ceased prior to apical closure. Radiographs revealed a radio-opaque dentine-like structure and straight line centrally within the pulp of the permanent tooth. The displacement of the deciduous tooth into the developing permanent tooth was confirmed. This unusual potential complication should be considered when performing deciduous teeth extraction.

Microscopic Alterations of the Dental Pulp in Surgically Extracted Teeth of Dogs

Microscopic alterations in the dental pulp of dogs have not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to investigate microscopic alterations of the dental pulp in dogs' teeth. One hundred and ten surgically extracted teeth (20 incisors, 23 canines, 28 premolars, and 39 molars) from 74 dogs, of different ages, with a history of chronic periodontitis (66 dogs), periapical abscesses (2 dogs), pulpitis (2 dogs), oral cavity neoplasms (2 dogs), dens invaginatus (1 dog), and dental fractures (1 dog) were included. Eight-one maxillary and 29 mandibular teeth were included. Coronal, radicular, and coronal plus radicular calculus were present in 28.2%, 17.3%, and 54.5% of the teeth, respectively. In total 78 teeth (71%) had pulp alterations, including fibrosis (26%), calcification (14%), necrosis associated with the absence of odontoblasts (14%), presence of predentin and dentin inside the cavity (8%), odontoblastic hyperplasia (3%), pigmentation (3%), pulpitis (2%), and pulp stones (1%). Forty-nine (60.5%) of the maxillary teeth and all of the mandibular teeth had pulp alterations. The premolars were most affected, and the molars least affected, by pulp alterations. Pulp fibrosis, calcification, and necrosis were observed in teeth irrespective of the distribution of dental calculus.

A Rare Case of Radicular Dens Invaginatus (Dens in Dente) in a Dog

A rare case of radicular dens invaginatus (dens in dente) was found during dental cleaning of a 5-year-old male Rottweiler dog. Radiographic examination revealed intense radiopacity, which extended from the crown to the apical root region of the affected tooth. Macroscopically, the crown of the left maxillary first molar tooth (209) had irregular and deformed buccal and lingual surfaces. Microscopic examination revealed dentine invagination in the pulp cavity in of the crown and root and pulp necrosis. Based on the gross, radiographic and histological findings, a diagnosis of radicular dens invaginatus was made.

Mandibular Carnassial Tooth Malformations in 6 Dogs-Micro-Computed Tomography and Histology Findings

Objective: To document the clinical, radiographic, and histological characteristics of mandibular first molar teeth with developmental abnormalities previously attributed to dens invaginatus and enamel pearls in dogs. Materials and Methods: Affected mandibular first molar teeth from dogs were evaluated grossly and via intraoral radiography. Endodontically and/or periodontally compromised teeth were extracted and subjected to some combination of micro-computed tomography, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry with anti-amelogenin antibody. Results: Six dogs with developmental abnormalities of mandibular first molar teeth were identified, representing 11 affected teeth. The condition was bilateral in 5 dogs, while in 1 dog, only one mandibular first molar tooth was present. Patient weight ranged from 1.7 to 6 kg (median = 4.09 kg). On intraoral radiographs, root convergence or parallelism was noted in 6 of 11 teeth, and root dilaceration was noted in 3 of 11 teeth. Eight teeth required extraction due to periapical lucencies or periodontitis. On micro-CT, the abnormal teeth were characterized by the presence of abnormal, heterogenous hard tissue with beam attenuation characteristics midway between that of enamel and dentin. Enamel fissures were identified in 4 of 8 teeth, while ectopic radicular enamel was identified in 2 of 8 teeth. The abnormal tissue was traversed by channels measuring 20-40 μm in diameter. Channels communicated with the enamel fissures in 2/8 teeth, the furcation in 2/8 teeth and the pulp in 4/8 teeth. The abnormal tissue was frequently surrounded by disorganized dentin. Histologic features of enamel and dentin were absent from the abnormal tissue and immunohistochemistry to detect amelogenin in the abnormal tissue was negative in all samples. Conclusion: The dental abnormalities described here correspond to a previously unrecognized developmental abnormality involving the mandibular first molar teeth in dogs. The developmental origin of the abnormal tissue could not be ascertained, and further investigations are required to determine the mode of formation, origin of the abnormal tissue, and factors associated with development. These developmental abnormalities more closely resemble molar-incisor malformation, rather than dens invaginatus or enamel pearls as described in humans. The authors propose that affected mandibular first molar teeth simply be referred to as having carnassial tooth malformations.

Developmental Structural Tooth Defects in Dogs - Experience From Veterinary Dental Referral Practice and Review of the Literature

Developmental tooth abnormalities in dogs are uncommon in general veterinary practice but understanding thereof is important for optimal management in order to maintain masticatory function through preservation of the dentition. The purpose of this review is to discuss clinical abnormalities of the enamel and general anatomy of dog teeth encountered in veterinary dental referral practice and described in the literature. More than 900 referral cases are seen annually between the two referral practices. The basis of the pathogenesis, resultant clinical appearance, and the principles of management for each anomaly will be described. Future research should be aimed toward a more detailed analysis of these conditions so rarely described in the literature.

Endodontic treatment of dens invaginatus in a dog

Dens invaginatus or dens in dente is a developmental dental malformation that has the radiographic appearance of a separate tooth inside the pulp chamber or canal of another tooth. This report describes endodontic treatment of a variation of dens invaginatus in the maxillary canine tooth of a dog.