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Dental Problems
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Incisor malocclusions (where the occlusal,
or biting surfaces, do not match) typically are seen in rabbits
in two different instances. First, in young rabbits born with facial
abnormalities or suffering early facial trauma, and second, in older
rabbits suffering with molar malocclusion.
All rabbits have two upper and two lower incisors,
as well as two small peg teeth that grow in behind the upper incisors.
As all teeth in the rabbit's mouth are open rooted, they grow continuously
throughout life, requiring proper contact with the opposing teeth
for normal wear. Consequently, any rabbit suffering from malocclusion
is affected with a life-long problem. Overgrown, maloccluded incisors
can curl inward, perforating the upper palate, penetrating lips,
tongues, cheeks and nostrils, and prevent the rabbit from eating.
When rabbits are unable to eat or drink, life-threatening metabolic
changes rapidly ensue.
In rabbits with maloccluded incisors, incisor grinding
offers a temporary solution, allowing the rabbit to eat. Please
note the key word: grinding. Clipping can be painful to the rabbit,
and runs the risk of splintering the remaining incisor below the
gumline.
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X-ray of aligned teeth.
Photo of misaligned teeth
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Splintering can set the rabbit up to develop a tooth
root abscess, which can in turn become a life-threatening problem. Please,
do not clip, or allow anyone else to clip you pet's incisors! Grinding
offers a quick, safe way to level out maloccluded incisors.
For young rabbits affected with incisor malocclusion,
a more permanent solution can be offered by way of incisor removal. Under
general anesthetic, all incisors and peg teeth are removed. As long as
the roots are also extracted intact, the problem teeth never regrow. In
the occasional instance where a root breaks, it can later be extracted
once the tooth regrows beyond the gum line. Pet rabbits do not need the
incisors for survival, and rapidly resume normal activity and diet.
Finally, older rabbits presenting with changes to the
occlusal surfaces of their incisors are an alarm flag for molar problems.
In this instance, evening out the incisors is like masking a symptom:
there is a more serious problem at hand, requiring a thorough evaluation
of the oral cavity.
Information Supplied by Dr. J. Sawyer, BSc, MSc,
DVM
Millennium City Veterinary Hospital
Pickering, Ontario
Read more:
Gilly-Monster: The tale
of a toothless bunny
Links to related articles:
Open
Wide! Rabbit Dental Disease - by Jeffrey Jenkins, DVM
Oral
Health in Rabbits - by Carolynn Harvey, DVM
When
Teeth turn to Tusks - by Diana Petty
Causes
and Treatment of Common Dental Problems in Rabbits - by Jeffrey Jenkins,
DVM
Rabbit
Dental Disease - by Susan Brown, DVM
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