FIGURE 6 Iatrogenic fracture of the left rostral mandible after extraction of the left mandibular canine tooth (A; arrows). Same patient with iatrogenic jaw fracture after extraction (B); significant bone loss from periodontal disease was present, which contributed to this complication. Dilacerated root of the left mandibular first molar in a small-breed dog (C). The first molar in these breeds is often very large as compared with the width of the mandible. The hook on the mesial root can make extraction more challenging.
Small-breed dogs have a high first molar:mandibular height ratio, which increases the risk for fracture in cases of periodontal disease.14 In such cases, the roots can also be dilacerated (ie, there is an abnormal bend, hook, or overall shape to the root[s]); the tooth may have significant bone loss and appear to be an easy extraction, but the hook on the end of the root tip often makes removal much more difficult (Figure 6C).
For most patients, prognosis after iatrogenic jaw fracture is good. Complete recovery can be expected with appropriate reduction and stabilization.15