T. Mannerfelt, MSc Vet Med; I. Lindgren
Summary: Several disturbances can occur in enamel formation. Amelogenesis imperfecta is an inherited enamel malformation that has not previously been reported in dogs. The aims of this study were to investigate amelogenesis imperfecta-like tooth discoloration in standard poodle dogs by histopathological characterization of discolored teeth from affected dogs, investigating whether these dogs have a common genetic background, and assessing how common this problem is in the breed. Histologically, a defect of enamel mineralization was documented. Affected enamel contained a large residual amount of organic matrix, showing that the enamel was not fully mineralized. In some sections, the enamel appeared intact, but with excessively well-defined enamel prisms which is an additional sign of poor mineralization. The abnormal enamel was identical to that seen in humans with amelogenesis imperfecta. Five of 27 standard poodle dogs present at a dog show had discolored teeth. A four-generation pedigree was available containing an example of parents also having discolored teeth one of which had amelogenesis imperfecta confirmed histologically. In all subsequent litters from these dogs, there was at least one dog with discolored teeth, and two histologically confirmed cases of amelogenesis imperfecta four generations later. Histological examination and the apparent familial occurrence indicates that amelogenesis imperfecta is a common cause of discolored teeth in standard poodle dogs in Sweden. J Vet Dent 26 (4); 213-215, 2009
Stefanie Huthmann, Carsten Staszyk, Hans-Georg Jacob, Karl Rohn, Hagen Gasse
Summary: The Curve of Spee is well known, yet hardly understood in the horse, as there is a striking lack of biometrically related data which could help to explain its biomechanical significance. Older horses display drastic alterations of the Curve of Spee in routine clinical examinations. Since the Curve of Spee is known to be biomechanically related to the masticatory forces in humans, the same may apply to the equine, and masticatory deficits can be expected in the geriatric horse. Quantitative data of the Curve of Spee cannot be obtained directly by means of measurements in the horse's long and narrow oral cavity. Instead, the radiographs of 24 heads and 6 skulls of horses of different age were used to develop a geometrical procedure facilitating a quantitative analysis of the height of the Curve of Spee. The geometrical values gave clear evidence that the height of the Curve of Spee was smaller in groups of older horses compared with those of younger horses. This finding was in accordance with biomechanical studies which reported decreased masticatory forces in older horses. J Vet Dent 26 (4); 216-218, 2009
Curt R. Coffman, DVM; Chris J. Visser, DVM; Louis Visser, DDS
Summary: 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. J Vet Dent 26 (4); 220-225, 2009
Jason W. Soukup, DVM; Christopher J. Snyder, DVM; William R. Gengler, DVM, MS
Summary: Open-mouth jaw locking in the cat has traditionally been minimally evaluated with diagnostic imaging. Multiple methods have been described for surgical management of this problem. This report describes the use of computed tomography to diagnose open-mouth jaw locking in 2 cats secondary to ventrolateral displacement of the coronoid process in relation to the zygomatic arch. In these 2 cases, a previously unreported surgical approach whereby the coronoid was not reduced before partial coronoidectomy was used with successful outcomes. J Vet Dent 26(4); 226-233, 2009
Ahmed M. Shoieb, Robert L. Donnell, Rebecca Seaman
Donnell L. Hansen, DVM; Gary S. Goldstein, DVM
Christopher W. Smithson, DVM; Kendall Taney, DVM