The trauma due to the lingually displaced lower canines can be seen in the 2nd photo. There is significant gum recession where the mandibular canine tooth (304) contacts the palatal gingiva of the maxillary canine tooth (204) and creates a deep gingival pocket. When this pocket was debrided using a subgingival ultrasonic instrument and a hand scaler, a large amount of debris was removed which had been trapped. This debris (1st photo) would have caused pain and inflammation of the gingiva. Paper points in the 3rd photo are used to stop bleeding from the pulp so that the restoration can be applied. The 4th photo shows where the right mandibular canine tooth (404) was contacting the maxillary canine tooth (104) causing some trauma to the distal surface of 104. In the 5th photo it is obvious that the mandibular premolar teeth are crowded together (especially when compared to the maxillary premolar teeth). This is because the dog has a class 2 malocclusion so the mandible is shorter than the maxilla. The 6th and 7th photos show the mandibular canine teeth after the crowns have been shortened. They will no longer cause trauma to the upper palate but they should be x-rayed in 6 months time to check they are still vital, and monitored throughout the dogs life.
