Overgrown Incisors in a Rabbit

   

Some rabbit teeth are prone to dental problems such as the overgrown incisors as seen in these two rabbits. Rabbits’ teeth grow throughout their lives and can grow from 4 to 5 inches per year. Some rabbits have a malocclusion that results in improper wear of their incisor teeth. As a result, these front teeth may grow to a point at which they protrude from the mouth and make food intake difficult. In these cases, the affected teeth need to be trimmed on a regular basis or should be surgically removed.

This rabbit’s upper incisors over grew to the point where they were digging into the gum tissue on the lower mouth (white arrows). Obviously this can cause pain. This view is of an anesthetized rabbit, using dental tools specially designed for rabbits to allow access for a thorough oral exam.

   

A high speed dental drill can be used to trim the incisors back to a more normal size and shape. This will at least temporarily relieve the trauma associated with overgrowth. Due to the fact that rabbit teeth continue to grow and the underlying problem is a jaw malocclusion that prevents normal apposition of teeth and normal wear through the grinding action of chewing, this problem will most likely reoccur and need trimming again in a matter of months. As a result, many rabbit owners decide to have these teeth extracted for a more permanent cure. Rabbits can eat and drink just fine without their incisor teeth.