Author: Karen L. McGlothlin, DVM, PhD
Dr. Crawford with Tic Tic.
Veterinarian: Dr. Crawford
Patient: Tic Tic Bloom
Breed: Reticulated Python
Current Age: 3 years old
Background: You may remember Tic Tic Bloom, as he was the Lawndale Veterinary Hospital’s Pet of the Month for January 2020. Tic Tic is a three-year old reticulated python and back in August 2019, he came in for a visit with Dr. Crawford. Tic Tic’s owners had noticed a swollen area over the upper right side of his mouth. Although the swelling had not affected Tic Tic’s appetite or interfered with his ability to eat, it had persisted for about six months and sometimes appeared to be scabbed over.
At the time of Tic Tic’s examination, Dr. Crawford noted the swelling and observed multiple draining tracts, which are created when material produced by an area of inflammation drains to the exterior by way of the path of least resistance. At that time, Dr. Crawford started Tic Tic on a course of intramuscular antibiotic injections and requested a recheck examination in three weeks.
When Tic Tic returned for his follow-up visit, the affected area of soft tissue over the upper right side of his mouth had visibly improved; however, there was still some swelling present. Since the swelling had decreased, Dr. Crawford was able to palpate the area and could feel a loose tooth trapped in the tissue.
Some Information About Snake Teeth: In order to accommodate large prey items, a snake’s upper jaw is not connected to the lower jaw and the two halves of the bottom jaw are not connected to each other. On each half of the upper jaw, there are two rows of teeth, one located just inside the other, and on each lower jaw there is one row of teeth, for a total of six rows of teeth in a snake’s mouth
While snakes frequently lose teeth when struggling with prey items, it is not a problem for them at all, as they can replace/regrow any teeth that are lost throughout their lifetime. Generally, snakes can be placed into one of four categories, based on the anatomy of their teeth:
- Aglyphous snakes – The teeth of aglyphous snakes are all similar in shape, but may vary in size (or not). There are no specialized teeth, and the teeth lack the grooves that are seen in the teeth of other types of snakes that serve as channels for venom. Most aglyphs are non-venomous and include the pythons and boa constrictors.
- Opisthoglyphous snakes – The snakes belonging to this category have a pair of fangs at the back of the mouth, which angle backwards and possess a groove along the surface that is used to direct venom (some haemotoxins that destroy blood cells) into the sites of the bite wounds that they create. Opisthoglyphous snakes are also known as “rear-fanged” snakes and include the common kingsnake, the hog-nosed snake and the highly venomous boomslang.
- Proteroglyphous snakes – The mouths of proteroglyphous snakes are modified such that the maxillae (bones of the upper jaw) are shortened and contain few teeth aside from a pair of enlarged fangs at the front of the mouth that each encircles a complete tube (as opposed to the grooves seen in opisthoglyph teeth) that creates a venom channel in the center of the tooth – a venom-delivering hypodermic needle, if you will. Proteroglyphs produce some of the most toxic venoms (neurotoxins that damage nervous tissue) known to man, including the cobra, the mamba and sea snakes.
- Solenoglyphous snakes – Snakes that are including in this category have a highly advanced venom delivery system. The maxillae (bones of the upper jaw) are highly reduced to form a pair of small pedestals in the top of the mouth, each supporting a single hollow fang. The very-elongated fangs are folded against the roof of the mouth and point backward when the mouth is closed but are hinged and drop into biting position when the mouth is open. This type of dentition is exclusively found in the group of snakes known as the vipers, which includes the pit vipers (rattlesnakes, water moccasins, and copperheads, etc.) and the old-world vipers (adders, Gaboon vipers, etc.).
Size of tooth compared to a dime.
Extraction of tooth.
Swollen tissue over the right upper side of mouth.
Back to Tic Tic: Once Dr. Crawford was able to palpate the presence of at least one tooth trapped in the swollen soft tissue on the right side of Tic Tic’s mouth, he recommended exploratory surgery be performed on the area and Tic Tic’s owners agreed. Tic Tic was sedated and Dr. Crawford made an incision along the affected area over the upper right side of his mouth. He was able to remove a fluid-filled sac and three loose teeth that had been trapped in the space. Once Dr. Crawford was satisfied that he had removed all the sources of inflammation, he closed Tic Tic’s incision and discharged him to recover at home. Tic Tic recovered uneventfully, has replaced the three teeth that Dr. Crawford removed, and is currently doing well at home!
RECOMMENDED READINGS/REFERENCES
Lopez-Bosch, David. Snakes: Show Me Your Teeth and I’ll Tell You Who You Are.
Pettit, Rebekah. Reptile Dentition: The Details on Reptile Teeth.