Dental Implant Replacement of the Mandibular First Molar Tooth in a Dog

A new dental implant system was used to replace the mandibular right first molar tooth in an eleven-month-old male/intact, utility trained German shepherd dog. The permanent mandibular right first molar tooth had been extracted as treatment for an extensive carious lesion when the dog was 9-months of age. There were no complications associated with placement of the dental implant. However, peri-implant osteomyelitis occurred secondary to a traumatic oral wound 6-months following implant placement. The 17-month post-operative examination indicated that the implant system used in this case could be maintained in a working dog that uses extreme bite forces. However, periodontal inflammation and vertical bone loss exposing the implant fixtures were noted during oral examination. Further clinical applications are required to determine if the periodontal inflammation and vertical bone loss noted in this case were complications associated with the implant, maturity of bone at the time of implant fixture placement, general biting/chewing forces placed on carnassial teeth, or the oral trauma that occurred 6-months following implant placement.