Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with hole in palate treated using 3D printed palate device
By Eriksson, Jacob et al.Ā·Published in Journal of veterinary dentistryĀ·2025Ā·Department of Veterinary Clinical SciencesĀ·View original on PubMed ā
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research ā every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work ā
Original publication title: Management of an Acquired Palatal Defect With a 3-Dimensional Printed Palatal Obturator in a Dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old mixed breed dog was brought in with a large hole in the roof of its mouth after treatment for a giant cell tumor. Instead of surgery, the vet used a special device called a palatal obturator, which helps separate the mouth from the nasal cavity. This device was custom-made using 3D printing and was attached to the dog's teeth, making it easy to clean without needing sedation. Over two years, the dog showed no signs of discomfort or issues related to the defect, indicating that the treatment was successful.
People also search for: dog mouth hole treatment Ā· palatal obturator for dogs Ā· giant cell tumor in dogs
Abstract
Large defects in the hard palate can be difficult to treat surgically, as dehiscence is common. These defects may instead be managed with a palatal obturator, which can serve to separate the oral and nasal cavities. In this report, a 7-year-old, mixed breed dog was treated with a palatal obturator, after presenting with an acquired palatal defect following treatment of a giant cell tumor of bone in the hard palate. The palatal obturator was designed and manufactured using computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), and 3-dimensional printing. The obturator, anchored to 4 maxillary teeth, was easy to apply and remove, allowing daily cleaning without the need for sedation. The patient showed no symptoms or discomfort related to the obturator or acquired palatal defect over 2 years after initial presentation to the dental clinic.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39722433/