Lingual displacement of one or both of the mandibular canine teeth is a common malocclusion observed in dogs which may result in palatal trauma and inability to completely close the mouth (Fig. 1). Trauma such as oronasal fistulas or periodontal pockets may occur if the mandibular canine teeth occlude with the hard palate. The normal occlusion for the mandibular canine teeth is to interdigitate in the interproximal space (diastema) between the maxillary canine teeth and the third incisor teeth without making contact with the hard palate or maxillary teeth. Lingual displacement of the mandibular canine teeth is often secondary to retention of the deciduous teeth. Other causes for lingual displacement include: malpositioned tooth buds, trauma to the tooth bud or tooth during eruption, retrognathic mandible (more caudal than normal location of mandible), brachygnathic mandible, and excessive anisognathism (maxilla abnormally wider than mandible). Malocclusions that result in an inability to close themouth or are painful can be treated with orthodontic appliances to provide the animal with a more comfortable bite. Orthodontic treatment using a direct acrylic inclined plane for a lingually displaced mandibular canine tooth is described step-by-step.
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