Download RETAINED PRIMARY TEETH

R ETAINED P RIMARY T EETH
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Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
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Dogs begin to lose their primary (“baby”) teeth at around 4 months of age, continuing until
about age 7 months. You may not even notice the teeth coming out, or you may see a tiny bit
of blood on the gums or lips. When the permanent teeth erupt without the primary teeth
falling out, orthodontic and periodontal problems can develop. This is especially common in
small breed dogs (Maltese, Yorkshire terriers, and poodles). The tooth most commonly
affected is the canine tooth.
Normally the primary teeth exfoliate as the adult tooth puts pressure on the root of the primary
tooth during eruption, causing resorption of the root. With
retained primary teeth, the adult tooth does not line up correctly
with the primary tooth root, so the root remains intact. The
retained primary tooth causes the adult tooth to be deviated to
the side with two teeth where there is only room for one.
This causes several problems. First, the adult tooth is forced to
erupt into an area that will cause either soft tissue or tooth trauma. Second, due to the loss of
the normal separation between teeth, the crowding can cause periodontal disease in the area.
The loss of separation of the teeth stretches the normal gum tissue that protects the bone and
root. Plaque and tartar accumulate in the area, causing gingivitis.
Extraction of the primary tooth should be done as soon as the adult tooth is seen erupting so
that the gum tissue can tighten back up as much as possible, and hopefully allow the
permanent tooth to move into a normal position.
Remember: No two teeth should occupy the same space at the same time!