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Braces to Fix Your Dog’s Teeth
If your dog has pronounced overbites or underbites, or if their teeth are misaligned, you may race to fix your dog’s teeth. Our Madison veterinarians go through dog braces, when to use them, and how to determine whether your dog needs them.
Can dogs wear braces?
Dog braces have been used for decades to treat our canine friends’ severe orthodontic problems.
Although some people may find it amusing, dog braces can allow dogs with severe biting problems and orthodontic misalignment to chew and feed regularly, which they were unable to do before treatment.
What conditions do braces for a dog’s teeth help?
Puppies with crowded, crooked, or lanced teeth may benefit from dog braces (a condition in which the upper canine teeth are pointed more forward than normal).
Additionally, dog braces can assist in resolving the following issues:
- Overbites (when top front teeth expand beyond bottom front teeth)
- Underbites (when the lower incisors are in front of the upper incisors and the lower canine tooth is resting against the upper 3rd incisor)
- Linguoversion (when one or lower canine teeth are inclined inward, frequently causing uncomfortable contact with the dog’s mouth roof)
- Baby teeth that don’t fall out create misalignments
- After jaw surgery, teeth mobility is prevented
Read More: 7 Reasons to Walk Your Dog
What are the signs that my dog needs braces?
Your veterinarian will be able to tell you if orthodontic braces could improve your dog’s health if your dog receives routine wellness examinations or annual dental exams, but there are several symptoms you can look out for.
Dogs who may require braces include:
- Unusually, their top front teeth protrude beyond their bottom front teeth.
- Extremely long bottom jaw sticking out in front of the top front teeth
- Enormous spaces between teeth
- Too many teeth
- Eating while dropping food
How long will my dog need to wear braces?
Dogs normally only wear braces for a few weeks or months, unlike human orthodontic therapy, which can last years. Braces to fix your dog’s teeth and think of them as a training exercise that supports healthy habits and healthy joints.
Read More: Why Do Dogs Lick?
How do I care for my dog while they have braces?
You must be careful to keep your dog’s mouth clean while it is receiving orthodontic treatment. This entails scrubbing your dog’s teeth in the area around the braces and giving them an antiseptic mouth rinse.
Changing your dog’s diet to soft (canned) dog food might be essential, depending on how well the dog tolerates the braces.
While your dog is wearing braces, bones, rawhide, and chew toys are not permitted since they could harm the appliance and hurt your dog.
You will also need to often schedule dental checkups at your veterinarian’s clinic while your dog is wearing braces.
