Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
New jaw wiring method to fix broken cat jaws using tooth molds
By Goggin, K & Snelling, S·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2025·Registrar in Small Animal Surgery at North Coast Veterinary Specialist and Referral Centre, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Rigid maxillomandibular fixation using a novel technique involving unbonded polymethylmethacrylate canine tooth moulds and interarch wiring for maxillomandibular trauma in three cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Three cats with jaw fractures were treated using a new surgical technique that involved wiring their upper and lower jaws together while using custom molds to keep their teeth aligned. After the surgery, all three cats healed well and were able to eat hard food again once the implants were removed. They experienced only minor issues, like drooling and a temporary sticking out of the tongue, but overall, the procedure was successful in restoring their jaw function. This method shows promise for effectively treating similar injuries in cats.
People also search for: cat jaw fracture treatment · cat surgery for jaw alignment · why is my cat drooling after surgery
Abstract
Mandibular and maxillary fractures are common in small animals and present significant challenges for repair due to the intricate anatomical features involved. This retrospective case series describes a technique for achieving rigid open mouth maxillomandibular fixation using interarch wiring while maintaining correct alignment between the upper and lower teeth with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) moulds of the canine teeth for treating maxillomandibular fractures in cats. The study includes a description of the postoperative outcomes and complications encountered. The surgical technique successfully achieved anatomical dental occlusion and restored jaw function in all three cats. The implants were well tolerated, with only minor complications such as mild ptyalism and temporary tongue protrusion. No intraoperative complications occurred, and all three cats resumed normal hard food consumption after implant removal. This study provides initial evidence that the use of rostral interarch wiring combined with PMMA canine tooth moulds can result in clinical union and normal occlusion, given appropriate surgical case selection. This technique is simple to perform, requires minimal inventory and can be implemented in clinical settings where thorough anatomical planning is conducted.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39778911/