Use of a Dental Composite to Correct Beak Deviation in Psittacine Species

Abstract

Beak deviation and abnormal beak occlusion are common presentations of parrot species to veterinary hospitals. There have been many published descriptions of techniques that have been used to treat abnormal beak occlusion in parrot species. Many of these techniques are difficult to apply and often result in iatrogenic beak trauma. The technique described in this article uses state-of-the-art dental cold curing dental composite and the patient's beak for support to reduce the incidence of beak damage caused by the corrective device. There are many variables (e.g., patient age, owner compliance, patient's ability to be hand fed) that should be considered when correcting a beak malocclusion with the technique described in this article. This recommended technique should serve as a possible option, among the previously described techniques, when correcting a parrot beak with abnormal beak occlusion.