THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF TOOTH RESECTION IN PIGLETS

An epidemiologic study was done on 796 newborn piglets to test the consequences of the resection of canine and lateral incisor teeth on the first day of live. The resection was carried out either with side-cutter pliers or with the teeth grinder PIGMATIC 110. A third group f piglets was left untreated and served as control. Histological, radiographic and bacteriological examinations were made in 10 piglets of each test-groups. An opening of the pulp cavity was seen when the crowns of teeth were ground, 48 % of those reacted with an inflammation of the pulp. The clipping of the crowns of teeth with side-cutter pliers caused pulpitis in 92 % of the teeth. Gingival inflammation was seen around clipped teeth. Splinters occurred only at teeth that had been clipped with side-cutter pliers. Gingivitis and pulpitis extended along the splinters to the apex of the root. Bites amond the litter mates were more frequent in the group of piglets whose teeth had not been treated than in the groups of piglets with resected teeth. Bites to the sow's udder were much more frequent if the resection hab been omitted. During the whole examination period the mortality of piglets was lowest in the group of piglets with grinded teeth. Clipping the teeth is regarded as a risk.