Feline Dental Implants: Long-Term Follow-up of Two Cases

Abstract

Dental implants have become an option for replacement of lost canine teeth in cats. Although cats appear to manage well after a canine extraction, complications such as lip entrapment can occur after maxillary canine tooth extraction. Even cats with a complicated crown fracture of the maxillary canine tooth that have had root canal therapy can develop lip entrapment. This can lead to painful lip ulcers and potential need for further dental treatment. Canine tooth replacement with a dental implant and prosthodontic crown is, in the authors’ experience, a predictable option that can be offered to clients who would like to replace a lost canine tooth. This report will discuss 2 long-term cases of maxillary canines replaced by dental implants/crowns.