Successful Guided Bone Regeneration of Dentigerous Cysts Associated with the Mandibular Canines in Two Small-Breed Dogs

Two small-breed dogs were referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chonnam National University for the treatment of dentigerous cysts associated with the mandibular canines. In both cases, conscious oral examinations revealed progressive gingival swelling and dark blue discoloration around the unerupted left mandibular canines. Intraoral dental radiographs showed horizontally unerupted canines, fluid accumulation between the cyst-involved teeth and the alveolar bone, and significant alveolar bone loss. Surgical removal of the dentigerous cyst and the affected teeth can lead to complications, including mandibular fractures, particularly in small dogs due to the higher tooth root-to-mandible ratio. Guided bone regeneration (GBR) was employed in these cases to prevent these complications. The procedure involved placing bone xenografts into the extraction sockets of the left mandibular canine tooth, followed by covering the sockets with an absorbable collagen membrane. After surgery, the surgical site was successfully filled with bone graft material and newly formed bone with no complications. Thus, GBR proved to be an effective technique for preventing mandibular fractures and increasing stability in cases of severe alveolar bone loss in small-breed dogs.