Breed-Specific Dental Variations in Dogs Assessing Malocclusions Using Computed Tomography (CT).

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Dentistry
• Comparative Anatomy
• Canine Health

Background:

• Dental malocclusions are prevalent in dogs, often leading to oral trauma and periodontal disease.
• Scientific understanding of breed-specific dental variations remains limited.
• Underdiagnosis of malocclusions contributes to potential health complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate breed-specific variations in canine dentition.
• To evaluate the prevalence and types of dental malocclusions in a diverse dog population.
• To determine the association between skull morphology and dental alignment in dogs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 92 canine head computed tomography (CT) scans.
• Evaluation of dental alignment and occlusal relationships using standardized malocclusion criteria.
• Categorization of malocclusions into Class I (crowding), Class II (overbite), and Class III (underbite).

Main Results:

• Malocclusions were identified in 46.7% of the studied dogs.
• Brachycephalic breeds exhibited a high prevalence of malocclusion, with Shiba Inus showing the highest rate (66.7%).
• Class I malocclusions (crowding) were most common (44.19%), followed by Class II (30.23%) and Class III (20.93%).

Conclusions:

• A significant association exists between canine skull morphology and dental alignment abnormalities.
• Breed-specific variations in dentition are evident, particularly in brachycephalic breeds.
• Findings highlight the importance of recognizing and addressing malocclusions in veterinary practice.