title: Thermoplastic inclined plane aligner for correction of bilateral mandibular canine tooth distoclusion in a cat.
abstract: Mandibular brachygnathia was the etiology for moderate mandibular distoclusion and bilateral palatal canine cusp penetrations in a kitten. The course of treatment included deciduous canine tooth exodontia, tooth extensions, and ultimately, aligners that incorporated inclined planes fabricated from a thermoplastic sheet that was "indirectly" vacuum thermoformed over a dental model. The thin, flexible aligners fit over the rostral maxillary teeth and palate, and were retained by a snug fit on the slightly divergent maxillary canine teeth. Advantages over "directly" applied composite inclined planes include: serial gradations of angulations for more gradual tooth movement, elimination of dental trauma from composite adhesions and removals, owner-removable and cleanable appliances, and a single anesthetic event required for dental impressions. Five progressively angled aligners were used sequentially over a 3-month period to achieve atraumatic "clinical" neutroclusion of the rostral dentition.
authors.forename: Stanley W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Blazejewski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002415:Cats / Q000002:abnormalities; D003481:Cuspid / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008334:Mandible / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000254:growth & development; D008844:Micrognathism / Q000662:veterinary*; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design / Q000662:veterinary*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000662:veterinary; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000601:surgery