Removing complex teeth safely and with minimal impact.
Lip entrapment is a condition we commonly see in feline patients, typically occurring after the extraction of a maxillary canine tooth.
Understanding Lip Entrapment in Cats
Cats have relatively tight upper lips compared to dogs. The maxillary canine tooth helps hold the lip outward, preventing the mandibular canine tooth from slipping inside and causing trauma when the mouth closes. Without the maxillary canine, the upper lip can droop inward, leading to the lower canine tooth contacting, trapping and potentially traumatising the upper lip.
While some cases of lip entrapment may cause minimal concern and be noticed intermittently, others can result in significant trauma, including hair loss, lip thickening, chronic ulceration, and eosinophilic granuloma formation. In such cases, treatment of the mandibular canine tooth is necessary to address the trauma.
Available Treatment options
When treatment is necessary, two approaches are available:
- Reduction of the mandibular canine tooth height, followed by endodontic therapy such as root canal treatment or vital pulpotomy.
- Extraction of the mandibular canine tooth.
Both options can relieve trauma to the upper lip.
The most suitable treatment depends on various factors and should be discussed after a thorough examination.
Preventing & Managing the condition
Ideally, preventing trauma involves preserving the maxillary canine tooth whenever possible. However, conditions like advanced periodontal disease and tooth resorption may necessitate extraction, leading to potential complications such as lip entrapment.
Predicting which patients will experience lip entrapment after maxillary canine extraction can be challenging.
For those who do encounter this issue, treatment options are available to enhance their comfort and quality of life.
