Bouvier - overshot jaw story & pix

The Overshot Mr. Bentley
by Donna Sparks
Ms Sparks is a trainer & a moderator on the BouvLovers list
Bentley is her first Bouvier

When it was discovered that Bentley was terribly overshot [top jaw extending over lower jaw], Donna debated the pros & cons of dental intervention. Here are some brief excerpts:

February 24, 2003, Win Some Loose Some Well, Bentley is still at the vet... He still has his canines, but not his testicles - hence the email title...

The vet was unable to address the issue of his teeth. We mutually decided that extraction was not an option for him - too much possibility for nerve damage. The x-rays indicated that the teeth would have to be filed down below the pulp in order for them to stop hitting. [...]

February 26, 2003, Bentley's Teeth Well, we went to the veterinary dentist tonight. The good news is, we can make Bentley comfortable with a crown amputation. The bad news is that he will have to be anesthetized again and it will cost about $985.

The vet is extremely cautious about the anesthesia and will run some pre-anesthesia tests to be extra careful.

The procedure is absolutely necessary as he has already sustained some irreparable damage to the roof of his mouth and top canines. The condition will become more severe as his lower canines continue to come in. [...]

He goes in on Wednesday.

Donna and Bentley (Ummm, anyone care to hear the Bouvier's thoughts on this?)

March 12, 2003, Follow up I can't believe it! If I had any idea how uncomfortable he was, I never would have debated for so long. Yes, they are stoic creatures, but I truly appreciate that now. He is gloriously destroying his toys and revels in the opportunity to play catching games - something he never did before.

The dentist said that many times you don't realize how much discomfort they are in until after the procedure, and he hit the nail on the head - so to speak.

Q. How is Mr. Bentley doing?

A. Wonderfully, in a mischievous, destructive puppy sort of way <smile>. Alas, all bones and hard chewing items are forbidden, but he has learned to truly enjoy the art of shredding thick cardboard and devouring carrots!

Q. The teeth you sent me, could you give me a few more details on them.

A. There are two shot of his upper palate. click photo for larger image On the inside of the upper canines you can see the impressions that were made by the lower canines. Once fully erupted, his lower canines would have been directly in the root of the upper ones. This would have greatly compromised the health of his upper canines and the pain would have been excruciating. Additionally, the lower jaw is unable to advance when the canines are "locked" in this manner.

Q. In the before & after, you can really see how far down they filed his lower canines. [B] I'm assuming the core in the middle was the root canal. [C] What did they do with that?

A. In the before profile [A] , you can really see how overshot he is, and that his lower jaw fits completely inside his upper jaw. click photo for larger image

The procedure was to amputate the crown of the canines, remove some of the pulp of the tooth with a dental drill. Then calcium hydroxide is placed into the canal (antibacterial and promotes natural production of dentin). Then a thermal layer is placed over the calcium hydroxide to insulate the pulp and act as a base for the last layer. Then a filling is used to seal the restoration (same as a human filling).

There is a 10% chance that the procedure will fail. He will be X-rayed in 6 months to see if it was successful. Should it fail he will require a root canal (and I will probably be single!!!)

Q. What Bentley's little friend's name [sitting on the front steps with you?]

A. That would be my feisty, almost 4 year old daughter Cara. I will never forget the day we got Bentley - a beautiful memory.