Modified distal wedge excision for access and treatment of an infrabony pocket in a dog

A six-year-old male neutered Dachshund dog presented with generalized moderate gingivitis and calculus formation. A comprehensive oral examination performed under general anesthesia revealed infrabony pockets and horizontal bone loss associated with the left mandibular first and second molar teeth. The left mandibular second molar tooth was extracted, while the left mandibular first molar tooth was treated by staged periodontal therapy, including a modified distal wedge excision for open root planning and bone augmentation. Preoperative probing depths of 9-mm associated with the distal root of the left mandibular first molar tooth were reduced to 2-mm following treatment. The patient continued to maintain normal periodontal probing depths, with no gingival recession at 3, 6, 16, and 33-months following periodontal treatment.