Deciduous Malocclusions

Brook A. Niemiec DVM Southern California Veterinary Dental Specialties A deciduous malocclusion is one that is not standard for the breed which occurs during the deciduous phase of dentition. Any class of malocclusion can present in the deciduous phase, however jaw length discrepancies are more commonly seen at this time. Moreover, these malocclusions may be temporary or develop into a permanent problem. Etiology: Orthodontic problems may arise from several different sources, which are broadly classified as genetic or non-genetic. Malocclusions associated with jaw length discrepancies are typically considered genetic in origin. In some cases, the patient may be genetically programmed for a normal bite and only temporarily maloccluded. These temporary malocclusions occur when the maxilla and mandible grow at varying rates during development, due to an independent jaw growth surge. Self-correction is more likely to occur when the alignment problem is mild. In most cases, the deciduous teeth are trapped by either a tooth or the soft tissues on the opposite arcade, which may interfere with genetically programmed jaw growth and subsequent selfcorrection. This condition is termed an adverse dental interlock. (Figure 1)