Ross_ECM_dental_2025

Dentistry in Exotic Mammals

• Presenter: Heidi Hoefer, DVM, ABVP

Learning Objectives

• Understand the differences between open and closed rooted teeth: which mammals possess each type and the reasoning behind it.

• Learn how to diagnose dental diseases in exotic mammals.

• Focus on incisors in treatment and prognosis.

• Note: Do not need to memorize dental formulas or drug doses, except for the nasal speculum.

Dietary Influence on Physiology

• Exotic species are characterized by unfamiliar physiological traits.

• Importance of understanding the origins of the patient to define their natural habitat and diet.

• Example: Hedgehogs exhibit insectivore dentition adaptations.

Dental Structures and Problems in Ferrets

• Ferret Teeth:

  • Designed for tearing flesh, like cats, with closed-rooted teeth.

  • Dental disease prevalent in ferrets consuming kibble diets.

  • Issues include:

    • Damaged enamel from hard kibble.

    • Common in middle-aged ferrets.

    • Dental problems include periodontal disease, tartar, gingivitis, and broken canine teeth from chewing on cage bars.

Murine Rodent Dentition

• Species include rats, mice, gerbils, and hamsters.

• Diet: small rodents primarily consume tubers, seeds, and grains.

• Teeth Characteristics:

  • Notable pigmented enamel on incisors.

  • Incisors are open-rooted, designed for gnawing.

  • Cheek teeth possess anatomical roots.

Herbivorous Adaptations in Exotic Mammals

• Hind-gut fermenting herbivores possess open-rooted teeth to thrive on abrasive diets.

Causes of Dental Disease in Exotic Mammal Pets

• Common causes include:

  • Inappropriate diet.

  • Malnutrition (e.g., Vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs).

  • Trauma from cage bar chewing.

  • Infections affecting tooth roots and surrounding bones.

  • Genetic factors, particularly in rabbits.

Dental Structure: Guinea Pig, Chinchilla, and Rabbit Teeth

• Characteristics:

  • Teeth type: elodont-hypsodont or aradicular-hypsodont.

  • Elodont: continuously growing teeth.

  • Aradicular: no anatomical roots (open-rooted).

  • Hypsodont: long crown for wear, includes visible clinical crown and reserve crown beneath the gums.

• Important Definitions: Elodont and aradicular refer to similar traits in dental structure.

Rabbit Dentition Overview

• Rabbits have 4 upper and 2 lower incisors with a prominent diastema.

• Anatomical features include a large mandible and tongue, facilitating lateral chewing motions.

Common Rabbit Dental Diseases

• Major Conditions:

  • Incisor malocclusion.

  • Dental points or spurs.

  • Elongated cheek teeth, affecting both roots and crowns.

  • Tooth root infections leading to possible jaw abscesses.

Understanding Incisor Malocclusion

• Can be congenital (especially in dwarf breeds) or acquired due to trauma.

• Presence of a second pair of upper incisors termed "peg teeth" results in a total of 6 incisors.

• Notably, rabbit teeth can grow approximately 10 cm/year.

Treatment for Incisor Malocclusion

• Options Include:

  • Regular trimming of teeth every 6 weeks.

  • Complete incisor extraction if cheek teeth are unaffected.

  • Precautions during extraction due to the risk of teeth shattering; use low-speed drills.

Molar Overgrowth and Spurs

• Cheek Teeth Problems:

  • Development of molar spurs can lead to oral ulcers and complications.

  • Cheek teeth grow irregularly, with lower teeth growing toward the tongue and upper teeth toward the cheek.

Importance of Radiographs

• Evaluation Method: Radiographs are essential to assess root development and potential dental issues.

Rabbit Dental Disease Management

• Infections: Rabbits can develop thick caseous pus requiring aggressive surgical debridement followed by long-term antibiotics and analgesics.

• Typical procedures involve removing abscess capsules and all necrotic tissue, including bone.

• Treatment strategies may also include the use of antibiotic-impregnated materials or medicinal manuka honey, though there is a high recurrence rate.

Long-term Dental Management

• Regular flushing and changing of packing in abscess sites are crucial.

• Awareness of anaerobic bacteria present in all abscesses: standard treatment includes a combination of antibiotics.

• Similar treatments apply to chinchillas and guinea pigs, with special caution for guinea pigs regarding penicillin use.

Dentition in Elodont Rodents

• Chinchilla and Guinea Pig Teeth Structure:

  • All teeth exhibit an open-rooted structure.

  • Notable differences in dental arcades between species, with mandibles diverging in rodents.

Lack of Attrition Issues

• Primary Problems in Elodont Rodents:

  • Lack of diet including abrasive silicates leads to overgrowth issues in both crowns and roots.

  • This can cause significant health complications, including dysphagia and pain.

Brachygnathism in Rodents

• Rarely congenital; more commonly observed in rabbits with secondary effects seen in guinea pigs and chinchillas due to reduced attrition.

Evaluation Techniques for Dental Health

• Best Practices: For evaluating roots, lateral radiographs provide clear images for diagnosis.

• Important evaluation points include bony involvement and dental structure abnormalities.

Sedated Oral Exams

• Mandatory for a comprehensive assessment of dental conditions in exotic pets. Tools needed include:

  • Welch-Allyn Bivalve Nasal Speculum for opening the mouth and spreading the cheeks.

Nutritional Implications on Dental Health

• Scurvy in Guinea Pigs: Can strongly affect dental alignment and occlusion.

Adjustments for Overgrown Teeth

• Treatment techniques focus on adjusting occlusal surfaces and correcting molar incisor relationships to prevent tongue entrapment.

Techniques for Corrective Dental Care

• Procedures Include:

  • Incisor reduction and extraction.

  • Tooth spur removal and crown reduction.

  • Diet modifications as necessary.

Dental Equipment Overview

• Needed tools for procedures include:

  • Bivalve nasal speculum.

  • Cheek dilators or bivalve.

  • Dental drill and Lempert bone rongeurs, with assistance for procedures.

Continued Education Resources

• Reference Text: Rabbit and Rodent Dentistry Handbook by Vittorio Capello, DVM and Estella Böhmer.

• = Additionally, numerous educational materials are available through LaFeber.com.