A 5-year-old castrated male giant schnauzer presented for treatment of a previously diagnosed, unerupted left mandibular canine tooth (tooth 304). Evaluate the attached photo and radiograph. The left mandibular first and second premolars were previously extracted.
An unerupted, malformed tooth 304 is present and teeth 305, and 306 were radiographically missing with a retained tooth root in the region. Unerupted teeth may lead to dentigerous cyst formation with resulting regional bone loss.
An incision was made through the gingiva of the dorsal alveolar ridge with releasing incisions on both the buccal and lingual aspects of the mandible. The left mandibular third premolar was extracted to allow for better exposure (the left mandibular first and second premolars were previously extracted).
After creating a mucoperiosteal flap, bone was removed with a round carbide bur on a water-cooled high speed handpiece. After removal of the dorsal cortex, a piezoelectric surgery unit was used to expose the unerupted tooth and delineate the periodontal ligament space.
Dental elevators were used to gently elevate the tooth from the mandible. A root remnant of the previously extracted distal root of the mandibular second premolar was also identified and removed.
Due to the presence of significant amounts of cortical bone on the buccal, lingual and ventral surfaces of the mandible, no osteoconductive or osteoinductive substances were placed. The site was closed in two layers with 4-0 poliglecaprone 25 in a simple interrupted pattern.
