GliderCENTRAL

Separated teeth???

Posted By: Anonymous

Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 05:47 AM

First off, this is Marissa/Konotashi.
Okay, my new glider was diagnosed with a calcium deficiency at the vet yesterday. I was giving him his calcium glubionate a little bit ago and noticed that his two bottom teeth were separated. I think this might be why his calcium:phosphorous ratio may be off, and I want to be sure that he is able to painlessly get EVERYTHING he needs from his diet. Should I blend his fruits and veggies into a liquid or something? I know that their bottom teeth are a big part in scraping out the stuff they need from them.
Posted By: LSardou

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 05:55 AM

When you say 'separated' do you mean birth defect, or abnormal growth, or accident?
Is he showing signs of discomfort when eating solids?
If this has been a normal feature for him and is not having trouble I wouldn't worry about changing his diet. Most of the foods in the diets are 'soft' as it is.


Since this is not an emergency, I'm going to move this over to Health & Hygiene.
Posted By: DeeDancer

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 06:20 AM

Are the teeth loose at all Marissa? I feel like I remember reading/hearing something about a glider who was in a lot of pain from some sort of tooth thing and his/her bottom teeth were loose and separated. I don't really remember the story...but maybe you should have your vet look at his teeth and make sure that there is nothing hinky going on?
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 06:33 AM

Marissa, I do know that in people with calcium defiency or calcium malabsorption disorders, the teeth can become loose from the jaw due to bone loss. While the calcium supplements will help prevent any further bone loss, if the teeth are loose due to jaw bone loss, he may lose the teeth.

Of course you KNOW I am still pretty new to gliders, so I am only stating what happens with people who have these kinds of illnesses.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 06:34 AM

I just talked to her she said that one of his teeth is loose.She just checked his teeth just now and one of them is loose. She THINKS it's his right one, but she's not sure... she said it was hard to get him to sit still.
Posted By: gliderdad79

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 06:49 AM

I would take him to the vet again to rule out an infection under that tooth. Wait too long and an infection will turn into a abscess.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 06:51 AM

He actually was just seen by a vet... Don't know if the vet looked at his teeth though.
Posted By: gliderdad79

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 07:07 AM

Most times teeth are lose in humans or animals is traced back to and infection in the area. I know he was just seen but wana be sure they checked the teeth
Posted By: Xfilefan

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 07:17 AM

Many vets do not do any kind of exam on teeth. Usually when the front lower incisors are separated, there is food driven between them, and often an abscess as well. Gelpacks can help cure the abscess and tighten the teeth back in. I've had a few with dental issues, and not one has lost their front incisors (though I had one that it was two of nine teeth remaining in her mouth-we-vet and myself-suspect postmortem to pneumonia she may have been diabetic).

But if your vet thinks it may help, my vet will consult with yours on the gelpacks: Dr. Laurel Harris 801-485-4736.
Posted By: DeeDancer

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 07:23 AM

Xfilefan, were the teeth loose in your gliders with separated front teeth?
Posted By: Xfilefan

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 07:35 AM

Yes, on Lyah's. She also did not have calcium deficiency issues at the time-but while that may have triggered an issue, as long as it's being treated it shouldn't stay an issue. The gelpacks worked wonders-of all the teeth she had treated or lost, those recovered best. She had three gelpacks applied-and they were probably the healthiest teeth in her mouth when she died.

Clotho also got food driven between her lower fronts-once-and only needed one gelpack after the abcess it caused was cleaned out. She's been fine almost 2 yrs since.

When those teeth get driven apart-loose on one or the other pretty much goes with it-or they wouldn't make the V shape. As long as gum disease is not present, or abscess under other teeth, it's treatable and fixable.
Posted By: Xfilefan

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 07:38 AM

Note: gelpack is almost a misleading term. It really is, but not like the word intimates. It is injected in the cavity as a liquid, and rapidly hardens to fill the infected (or previously infected/impacted) space. It releases a 24 hour a day dose of antibiotic as long as it's in there. As it slowly dissolves, the would closes and gums heal around it. It's been used in rabbits and other exotics for years, only recently in gliders, and there's only a couple members besides myself I know have had it done by their vets-and it really works.
Posted By: DeeDancer

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 07:52 AM

Do you remember how much you paid per gelpack? It's great that they work so well.
Posted By: Xfilefan

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 08:02 AM

It depends on the vet. Mine charges around $50 for the pack (just over her cost) and minimal for the anesthesia for me (I'm in there a lot, lol). Lyah's first visit, with 6 teeth removed, anesthesia, and three gelpacks...one for the fronts and two for infected rear sockets, was $340.00, including exam, but I usually go for under $100 so it's hard to say-The expensive one I know I paid full price on though.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 03:11 PM

I haven't read this whole post... But she told me to tell you guys that the vet did indeed check the teeth.
Posted By: DeeDancer

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 08:23 PM

Wait...the vet checked the teeth but didn't notice that they were separated or loose?
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 10:33 PM

please keep us posted about him =[ I am so sorry about your baby... I cant believe that the vet the fixed him didnt notice him... Ugh marissa I know we dont get along but This is about the gliders this is why im replying... Just take him to the vet again and there are some people that have had this so I would say find people that know first hand... You have gotten some pretty good info... but just keep us posted if you need anything or want another vets look on it if you send me pics of him and send me the vet info I will be more then happy to take it to my vet and let him know what is going on and get something for you so you can atleast have a little more out look on what is going on with him..

Yet again I am so sorry about this poor baby i hope for a speedy recovery!
Posted By: SugarBlossoms

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 10:42 PM

Marissa, if the teeth are seperated, he has an infection. He MIGHT need surgery to place an antibiotic pac, otherwise, keep the area cleaned out..he needs to be on an antibiotic. My Badge has this as a LIFE issue. You do NOT want bacteria in those gums!!! It can become toxic in the blood.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 10:59 PM

Originally Posted By: DeeDancer
Wait...the vet checked the teeth but didn't notice that they were separated or loose?


I guess... Guys I'm only saying what she's sending me... Sadly she's not available today... Hopefully she's back at the vet.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/01/09 11:55 PM

She's wondering: How long does it take for an infection to set in a tooth for the tooth to get loose
Posted By: LSardou

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/02/09 01:27 AM

Any type of an oral infection can cause the teeth to become loose early. Depending on the 'type' it can become serious almost instantly.
She needs to take her glider back to the vet ASAP otherwise this will pocket underneath the gums in which poisons can cause major problems if not fatality.
Posted By: Bourbon

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/02/09 03:33 AM

I had one, who was deemed a ripper, she would bite into you , and twist her head without releasing her teeth, she was psycho, when you touched her pouch and let go, she would attack the pouch for up to 45 minutes non stop..

I was talking to my vet about possibly using some valium on her to calm her down long enough for her to know everything was okay.. we decided on a half of a drop.. a feat in itself.. but while giving it to her, I noticed her teeth moved, and separated.... needless to say it really caught me off guard.

immediately I took her back to the vet and I showed her what she was doing.. she put her on Baytril, and kept her off of anything that she had to chew or bite on for 2 weeks. 3 days after starting the meds, her crabbing and nastiness stopped completely, and while administering the meds, I was also able to keep track of her progress with her teeth.

also lets keep in mind the medical makeup of their teeth and jaws. technically, their lower incisors, constitute the beginning of each side of their jaw. in other words.. the lower right incisor attaches to the jaw at the end, the jaw then curves around to form the one side, the same being true for the other side. so technically the lower incisors do not share a common bone. This can be noted with a very close look at under their chin right at the points below each incisor.
Posted By: DeeDancer

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/02/09 04:32 AM

If his gums were infected, would they be red, inflamed, or swollen at all?
Posted By: Bourbon

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/02/09 06:45 AM

not necessarily
Posted By: Xfilefan

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/02/09 07:16 AM

You may SEE no indication of infection at all looking at it. B is right about the placement of those teeth also-the left and right sides of the jaws are NOT connected, per se-they are by cartilage, but not bone, and technically are mobile to a degree. I learned what is normal and what not with a little tailless boy named Gimli, whose cartilage and jaw had been broken by being thrown into a wall-both sides of his jaw moved independently because the cartilage in front between the two halves of his jawbones had been broken. He got frequent abscesses there because food almost couldn't help but being driven between those teeth due to the damage. If only I'd known of gelpacks then! Sometimes, when the infection is bad, you may see a cottage cheese-like looking, um, "stuff" at the gumline (nothing on the gums themselves)-it's a combination of bacteria and foods-that is between the teeth-but don't count on that. If they are a V, something is likely driven between them-whether food, or infection-it needs removed, and treated. In addition to the gelpacks, we (and Glidrz5) have used a Chlorhexadine rinse to help keep the gums clean. Basically you just squirt it into their mouth and prett much let them shake it out.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Separated teeth??? - 02/02/09 11:04 PM

She's wondering what are some signs her vet should pay careful attention to and look for?
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