October 5, 2006 -- BY DR. MARTY BECKER, MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWSPAPERS -- We are inundated with images of people with perfect smiles. But did you know orthodontics is a burgeoning field for dogs?

When people hear about canine orthodontics, they often assume these procedures are foolish. Not necessarily so!

Canine orthodontic procedures are not done for cosmetic reasons. For dogs -- whose teeth are not used just for chewing but to pick up and carry objects -- a healthy bite is a necessity. Certain orthodontic problems in dogs can lead to painful conditions in the dog's mouth, and cause a marked decrease in the quality of life.

The normal bite for a dog is called the scissor bite, where the upper front teeth (incisors) overlap in front of the lower ones. The canine (or fang teeth) on the lower jaw are positioned halfway between the third incisor and the canine tooth on the upper jaw when the mouth is closed. Any deviation from the scissor bite is called malocclusion (bad bite). In some breeds, like English bulldogs, we've selectively bred for the malocclusion look.

"Fifty percent of purebred dogs have malocclusions that are considered normal for the breed standard, not all of which require orthodontic therapy," says veterinarian Dr. Daniel Carmichael of the Veterinary Medical Center in West Islip, N.Y.

Treating a bad bite can involve simple things like a veterinarian removing persistent deciduous (baby) teeth, or at the other end of the spectrum having a board-certified veterinary dentist apply braces. The goal of orthodontic treatment is to provide the dog with a healthy and functional bite -- not necessarily a perfect one. In fact, orthodontic treatment disqualifies dogs from being allowed to compete in dog shows.

One common and very painful condition is called linguoversion of the mandibular canine teeth, also called "base narrow." Translation: The canine or fang teeth on the lower jaw are slanted in and press against or penetrate the roof of the mouth. It's extremely painful and the affected dogs can be head shy, withdrawn or aggressive.

Sometimes, these lower fang teeth can poke through the roof of the mouth and cause an infection.

According to Carmichael, this problem can be corrected by removing a wedge of gum to allow the tooth to rotate into proper position; applying acrylic planes that act as ramps to direct teeth into a healthier position, or building up the height and changing the shape of the tooth with dental plastics (called camouflage orthodontics). But first, you may want to try a rubber ball.

One study showed that having young dogs with this condition hold an appropriately sized and properly shaped rubber ball or chew toy in their mouths for a minimum of 15 minutes, three times per day, can correct many of these base narrow conditions. The ball acts as an orthodontic appliance, applying forces to the affected teeth every time the dog bites down on it.

Done correctly on properly selected cases, the ball treatment works about 75% of the time.

Because pets require anesthesia for most dental procedures and some may require multiple procedures, orthodontics can be expensive. According to Carmichael:

• Rubber ball therapy: $5

• Average price of gum resection: $1,000

• Acrylic orthodontic appliance: $1,500

• Camouflage orthodontics: $1,500

Copyright © 2006 Detroit Free Press Inc.