Potential role for cannabinoids in the treatment of feline chronic gingivostomatitis
Giulia Polidoro and others, University of Bologna, Italy
Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is a painful condition in cats causing hypersalivation, dysphagia, anorexia and weight loss. It is normally treated by dental extraction and adjuvant therapies but often with only limited success. Non-psychotropic cannabinoid compounds derived from the cannabis plant have been shown to control the bacteria responsible for similar gum lesions in humans, as well as being useful in managing pain. The authors examined samples of oral mucosa from cats with FCGS and from healthy animals. They found evidence that cannabinoid receptors are present in normal tissue but are upregulated in cats with chronic inflammation. Their findings suggest a potential role for these compounds in FCGS treatment.
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 23, 679-691
Transoral approach for mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy in a cat
Melania Dallago and Paulo Burraco, Zoolife, Mezzolombardo, Italy
A sialocele is a submucosal or subcutaneous collection of saliva surrounded by reactive tissue. It is a rare finding in cats but those cases reported in the literature have been treated by excision of the ipsilateral mandibular and sublingual salivary gland/duct complex, using a lateral or ventral cervical approach. The authors describe a case in a 12-year-old male neutered Persian cat, treated using a novel transoral technique which reduces the duration of surgery. The method was effective and there was no evidence of any recurrence at six-month follow-up.
Canadian Veterinary Journal, 62, 497-500
Reconstruction of comminuted maxillofacial fractures in dogs using titanium mesh
Rosario Vallefuoco and others, Pride Veterinary Centre, Derby, England
Maxillofacial fractures are usually a result of road accidents, falls or attacks from other animals and may involve damage to any bone in the upper jaw, muzzle or face. Surgical treatment aims to restore dental occlusion, stabilise the major skeletal supports, re-establish the original facial contour and achieve proper function. The authors describe the clinical outcomes in a series of four canine patients with severely comminuted fractures treated using titanium mesh and screws. Their results show that these materials can achieve sufficient rigidity to facilitate uncomplicated healing in dogs with large facial bone defects.
Journal of Small Animal Practice, 62, 903-910
Use of advanced CT imaging during investigations of dental trauma in a dog
Ching Ching Shirley Kott and Sabrina Wilson, University of California, Davis
A 52kg six-year-old female Mastiff presented in a non-ambulatory state with a range of fractures and puncture wounds following a presumed encounter with a bear, or some other large wild animal. An additional finding was the apparent absence of both maxillary canine teeth. Imaging of the head using contiguous transverse 0.6mm collimated CT with 3D volume-rendering revealed that those teeth had been displaced into the nasal cavity. The teeth were removed and the dog made a good recovery from its extensive injuries. The case demonstrates the value of advanced imaging techniques in the diagnosis and surgical planning for rare cases with traumatic dentoalveolar injury.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 259, 988-989
Fracture resistance in canine dental implants and association with bite force
Jaime Sarda Aramburú and others, Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil
The technologies employed in human dental implants were often developed through studies in dogs. However, there are barriers to the routine use of dental implants to treat dental disease in canine patients, including the risk of overloading the structure, which would result in loss of osseointegration or fracture of the implant. The authors describe an in vitro study examining the resistance to external forces of 60 different implant designs and dimensions. Their findings suggest that using implants of the largest possible size for the intended site will minimise the risk of implant failure.
Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 38, 75-80
Effect of dietary changes on the incidence of caries in horses
Kirsten Jackson and others, University of Western Australia, Nedlands
Caries affecting the peripheral cementum layer of the cheek teeth is a common finding in horses and a significant welfare issue. Recent research has suggested that feeding a diet rich in water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) will increase the risk of caries. The authors investigated the effects of replacing a high WSC diet (oat hay) with a non-cereal hay ration. At follow-up, horses receiving the low carbohydrate were less likely to exhibit peripheral caries and had less severe lesions. The study highlights the ability of the equine oral cavity to recover from even quite severe peripheral caries if the inciting cause is removed.
Equine Veterinary Journal, 53, 1105-1111
“Human” oral pathogen found in association with an equine cheek tooth infection
Silvio Kau and others, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
Prevotella histicola is an anaerobic bacterial species that may cause pathologies such as caries and periodontitis in humans. Although some related bacterial species have been identified in the oral microbiome of horses, this particular pathogen has not previously been reported in a horse. The authors describe finding P. histicola in a 12-year-old Tinker mare with a persistent, malodorous purulent nasal discharge and quidding. Clinical examination revealed a severe apical/periapical infection of an upper cheek tooth. After extracting the affected tooth, laboratory tests identified the causative organism.
BMC Veterinary Research, 14, 343
Investigation of the dental anatomy of alpacas
Kirsten Proost and others, Ghent University, Belgium
Dental disease is regarded as a major health concern in New World camelids but there is little published data on the dental anatomy of healthy or diseased members of these species. The authors used micro-computed tomography for post-mortem examinations of 47 cheek teeth from 13 alpacas. Their findings provide detailed information on age-dependent mandibular cheek teeth anatomy, which may support the development of advanced dental treatments, such as endodontics and tooth-sectioning techniques, in this species.
