Braces for Dogs Teeth: Dogs can wear braces, yes. Since the late 20th century, veterinarians have treated dogs’ teeth with orthodontic equipment.1. Dog braces are only functional, even if orthodontic operations are sometimes used by people for cosmetic purposes.
Dogs with serious or even hazardous dental problems can have braces installed. Even while getting braces for your dog may seem drastic, it can make eating and chewing more comfortable for them.
Why Would a Dog Require Braces?
Many of the dental problems that affect humans can also affect dogs. A veterinarian will, however, only suggest braces for your dog in specific situations.
Read also: Blue Braces: How To Pick the Best Colors for Your Braces?
The following are the most typical causes of braces for dogs:
One or more lower canine teeth growing internally is known as linguoversion, a hereditary disease. Your dog’s inability to close his jaws due to linguoverted canine teeth may cause soft tissue damage too.
Overbite: An overbite is the condition in which a dog’s upper jaw is longer than its lower jaw.
Nestled baby teeth: Your dog may experience various dental issues if their baby teeth grow crammed and don’t fall out.
After oral surgery, such as the removal of a piece of the jaw due to cancer, braces can stop teeth from drifting.
The best results from braces come from using them on teeth that are still growing.3 Prior to more drastic procedures like permanent teeth grinding or tooth extractions, they can be a great option.
Which Conditions Are Treated by Dog Braces?
Dog braces are a tried-and-true treatment for a variety of orthodontic disorders that affect both humans and dogs. Among these dental disorders are:
- Too many teeth in close proximity to one another or overlapping
- Crooked or misaligned teeth
- The teeth of a Lance, with their pointed canines pointing out of the mouth wrongly
- Bites that are not aligned properly, such as underbites and overbites
- Remaining baby teeth can crowd out permanent teeth and lead to a variety of issues, such as gum disease and misaligned bites.
- After surgery: In certain cases, such as when cancer requires the removal of a portion of the jaw, dog braces are utilized to support the teeth.
- A specific condition known as linguoversion occurs when the canine teeth in the lower jaw fail to erupt normally.
Certain dog breeds, like the collie breed, are known for having linguistic noses, which are often long and narrow. Regretfully, this illness may cause excruciating discomfort and result in long-term issues, including the inability to close the mouth completely. The sharp canine teeth can literally pierce the roof of the mouth in cases of acute linguoversion.
Thankfully, braces for dogs can assist in resolving these issues.
Read also: Impacted Canine Teeth with Braces: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment options
How Will I Know Whether My Dog Requires Braces?
You should monitor your dog’s dental health over its entire life. However, the likelihood of needing orthodontic treatment early on is higher.
Canines begin to shed their baby teeth and gain adult teeth between the ages of four and six months. This is the window of opportunity when braces may be necessary.
The following signs may suggest that your dog requires braces:
- Food spilling or pain during consumption
- Being bashful
- noticeable alterations in teeth
- See your veterinarian if you’re not sure if your dog requires braces.
Dog Brace Types and How They Function?
Dog braces function by exerting force to the teeth, just like human braces do. The teeth are moved into the correct position by this pressure. The braces can then be taken off by the veterinarian.
Dogs usually wear standard metal braces, where each tooth has a metal bracket bonded to it. Every tooth in your dog is covered by an archwire, which is attached to the brackets using elastic bands.
Do Dogs Wear Braces for How Long?
Compared to people, dogs only need braces for a significantly shorter time. Dogs usually wear braces for no more than two or three months, although people may wear them for several years.
How long it takes depends on the state of therapy and the oral condition.Your dog will have routine examinations by the veterinarian to assess its growth.
The braces on your dog can be taken off as soon as your veterinarian is happy with the results.
What Is the Price of Dog Braces?
The average cost of dog braces for teeth is $2,750, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
A variety of factors can affect cost, such as:
- Intensity of the dental problem
- Dimensions of your dog’s mandible
- What is the age of your dog?
- Duration of treatment
- How much anesthetic is required for the operation
- The distinct cost of a veterinary clinic
The vet who treats your dog will be able to give you a more accurate quote for dog braces.
Will They Be Covered by Pet Insurance?
Dog braces for teeth may be covered by certain pet dental insurance plans, but you’ll need to check the fine print. Certain plans only pay for dental mishaps.
Your dog can also be subject to limitations according on its age. Before buying a plan, always be sure to carefully examine what your provider covers.
Extra Expenses
You may have to cover a few extra expenses when your dog gets braces. Among them are:
- Costs for consultations
- X-ray
- Visits to clinics
- Cleaning teeth
- Analgesia
What Makes Dog Dental Health Important?
Dogs frequently have dental problems; 80% of dogs who are three years of age or older have gum disease.4 Many dog owners don’t provide their pets routine dental treatment at home.5.
Even though it’s simple to ignore dental problems, regular dental treatment is essential to preserving your dog’s general health. Ignoring your dog’s dental health might have detrimental effects on them, including:
- Gum disease (periodontitis)
- Pathogens and abscesses
- Teeth that are broken or damaged
- Misaligned teeth
- Crowding of teeth
- Tumors or cysts in the oral cavity
- Fractures of the jaw
These problems could affect other aspects of your pet’s health and could be rather serious. Many veterinarians advise routine check-ups and frequent dental brushing.
Handling a Dog in Braces
When taking care of your dog who wears braces, some dental hygiene procedures to consider are:
- Regularly brush your dog’s teeth.
- As instructed, rinse your dog’s mouth with oral antiseptic.
- Try eating more soft meals instead.
- Limit using chew toys and bones.
Consult your veterinarian for more thorough information on how to take care of your dog while it has braces.
Different Oral Remedies for Dogs
Your dog may still need dental care even if braces are not necessary in some situations. Thankfully, there are additional solutions available to support better dental health for your dog.
Among them are:
- Ball treatment
- tooth extraction
- teeth filing or shortening
- To discuss alternate choices for your dog, speak with a veterinarian or veterinary dentist.
Verdict
Dog braces are used to correct linguoversion, overbites, and crowded teeth, among other dental issues.Braces can be a useful component of your pet’s dental care, which is essential to its general well-being.
When their adult teeth erupt, often between four and six months, dogs who require braces receive them. Your dog will wear braces for roughly two to three months if it receives them.Braces for dogs typically cost $2,750.
