Finley’s Smile: A Golden Journey
Through Jaw Correction

Finley the Golden Retriever was already capturing hearts at just six months old with her gentle nature and sunny energy. However, during a routine puppy check-up at Edgeworth Vet, a trusted Vet in Newcastle, something concerning was picked up: her lower jaw was slightly shorter than her upper jaw, a condition known as a class 2 malocclusion.

It hadn’t caused visible symptoms yet, but it was already affecting how her canine teeth were growing in. Without intervention, those teeth were on track to hit her palate every time she closed her mouth, an issue that would become more painful as she matured.

Adding to the complexity was a lack of spacing in her upper jaw (diastema) and some unusual incisor anatomy.

Knowing how vital early intervention is in cases like Finley’s, our team created a detailed, multi-stage treatment plan to guide her teeth into alignment before long-term problems develop. Step one involved extracting her deciduous (baby) teeth to prevent them from worsening the alignment. Once her permanent canines erupted, we moved to step two: dog braces in the form of orthodontic buttons and an elastic chain to gently shift the upper canines back, creating space for the lower canines to move into position.

Finley wore the appliance for two weeks, with light pain relief and an e-collar to protect the setup. It wasn’t always easy (puppies love to chew!), but everything stayed intact with clear communication and teamwork between her owners and our staff.

After the buttons and chain came off, we began step three: fitting an acrylic incline plane to the roof of Finley’s mouth. This smartly designed ramp helped guide her lower canines into the correct position each time she closed her mouth, like a track leading a train home. During this time, Finley was on soft foods and had her mouth gently rinsed after meals to keep everything clean.

At her final visit, we removed the incline plane under anaesthesia, polished everything up, and gave her teeth a good clean. There was some expected minor gingivitis, but this resolved quickly. As a bonus step, we applied a restoration to her fused incisor to prevent fibres getting stuck during toy-chewing, always thinking ahead.

In just six weeks, Finley’s orthodontic treatment was complete. Her bite now allows her to close her mouth without pain, her teeth fit where they should, and her quirky incisors no longer catch on fabric. Her owners are delighted with the result, and so is Finley, who can now chew, play, and smile without any discomfort.

Her journey is a perfect example of how early intervention, clear communication, and thoughtful treatment planning, guided by the values of respect, development, and well-being, can make a lasting difference in a pet’s life.

Contact the team at Edgeworth Animal Medical Centre today, to find out how we can help your pet smile again.