Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is gonna be long!!!Has anyone had impacted teeth in thier adult retic?I have a female 17-18ft tiger retic.When she was about 2 -2.5 years old she started to push due to breeding urges.I did not(do not) have a male to breed w/ her.Always happens Oct.-Dec.She feeds fine after that.But her gums swell after she stops pushing.My problem is during the months of normal feeding,her gums swell.In 07,I took her to vet (Stahl in VA) and he took out a tooth.A month later same thing but I managed to massage the tooth out.This happens every few months now.She does not push outside of breeding season(Oct-Dec).The gums swell up and I try to get the tooth out.At 18ft this is getting difficult.She is not pushing now and the swelling doesn't seem to bother her.Eats fantastic!I can feel the loose teeth in her gum sheath.Will these teeth work themselves out?
Sorry so long...I just need advice!
Thanks everyone!

Thanks in advance!

BTW...she is 5 now...i didn't know how to edit...sorry!

I don't have any advice about the gum swelling, but I've gotta say, props to you and your retic for the home dental care! Wow--you massaged out a tooth on a big retic! That alone is impressive. Must be a very tame tic. : )

I like to think that goes to show how well we keepers get to know our animals. I've got an adult blood python that is so tame now that I can hold her head in my hand without any reaction. I definitely think working with these animals builds a level of familiarity and trust that goes both ways, and they DO get to know who we are.

Anyway, good luck with those gums.

I don't know if I would take the chance on the loose tooth(teeth)working themselves out. Sometimes they will, but in my experience, most times they won't, which ends up causing irritation, and eventually infection, and an abscess, which is really a pain to clean up. So if your girl is agreeable enough, I would recommend getting someone to help you with getting the tooth(teeth) out before you wind up with a bigger problem.
I too, have a larger tiger female(pictured). When I first got her two years ago, upon arrival I noticed that her mouth was a little swollen on one side. Upon inspection, I discovered that she had a rather large abscess due to a loose tooth that had not worked itself free. Believe it or not, call it stupid or not, I removed the tooth, and proceeded to clean that abscess out every other day, by myself, until it healed. She never gave me an ounce of trouble. And she's not the first, nor do I kid myself, will she be the last, that will need this type of care. I do however think that 'Tics are intelligent enough to know when you are trying to help them. I have around a dozen that are over 13' and I can dive into the mouth of almost every one of them without too much trouble and do whatever needs to be done. And for the "doubting Thomases" out there, I have plenty of witnesses.
Sorry for the length of the post, and I hope all works out with your girl!

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Mike

Thanks for the replies.My problem is this happens every couple of months.I talked to a guy who works for Bob Clark and he said they usually swell up and pop out.I don't know what to do.