Dog Braces: Everything You Need To Know - PetMD

By Helen Anne Travis

Since the 1980s, veterinary dentists have used braces and other orthodontic appliances to treat dogs with painful and potentially dangerous dental issues.

Many of the tools and devices are borrowed from human orthodontics, but the goal is completely different.

“We’re not doing this for aesthetics,” says Dr. Donnell Hansen, a veterinary dentist and oral surgeon at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Minnesota. “We’re doing this for a healthier and more comfortable bite.”

Applying braces to a dog is not a task taken on lightly, she explains.

The pet has to be healthy enough to undergo anesthesia, and compliant enough to tolerate repeated pokings and proddings. Owners also have to be up to the task of maintaining and cleaning their pet’s mouth throughout the treatment process.

“It’s usually not the only option,” says Dr. Dan Carmichael, a veterinary dentist at Animal Medical Center in New York City. ”But in some cases, it is the best option.”

Health Issues That Require Dog Braces

Braces can help dogs who are dealing with everything from crowded teeth to cancer.

One of the most common issues they’re used to address is a condition called linguoversion, when the teeth are pushed back towards the tongue. When the linguoversion occurs on the lower teeth, breeders call this “base narrow.”

In this position, the teeth may rub against the roof of the dog’s mouth. At best, this can cause major discomfort. At worst, the teeth could poke holes in the roof of the mouth, leading to chronic and serious sinus infections.

Other issues that can cause problems include an overbite, when the lower jaw is shorter than the top, and lance teeth, when the upper canines point out rather than down.

Braces may also be used when the dog’s baby teeth fail to fall out properly. As the adult teeth come in, the mouth becomes increasingly crowded, leading to a greater risk of infections.

In more extreme cases, braces may also be applied after part of the jaw has been removed for cancer treatment. This helps minimize tooth drift.

It’s the veterinarian’s job to determine whether the dog’s teeth are just crooked, or crooked and causing problems. They will not apply braces for cosmetic reasons.

“Our end treatment goals are not to get the mouth perfect, but to get the mouth healthy and functional,” says Carmichael.