awing action.
Rat Tooth Trims
If done correctly, tooth trims are not painful. There are two common methods used to trim incisors. The first is by using regular dog nail clippers to cut the tooth like you would a toenail. This method is not the preferred way to trim teeth though. There is a high risk of cracking or splitting the tooth, because of the force needed to use the clippers. This method can cause pain if the tooth is split up to the nerve or trimmed too short.
The second method is by using a handheld rotary tool, like the Dremel, with a cut-off wheel to slice the excess tooth off. This method does require a bit more skill and anesthesia or sedation for rats since their mouths are so small but can be easily performed by a trained veterinary professional. By using a rotary tool, no trauma will occur to the tooth or nerve when cut, assuming it is done correctly. The only concerns are for trauma to the gums or lips if the wheel accidentally grazes them or if the tooth is trimmed too short. This is why it is necessary to anesthetize or sedate rats in order to properly and safely trim their teeth.
Owners of rats and other exotic pets with teeth that continuously grow must be aware of the possible complications regarding their pet's teeth. Without the proper attention, overgrown teeth can cause serious trauma, anorexia, infections, pain, and even death from the inability to chew and swallow. Thankfully, the problem of overgrown teeth is easily controlled with regular tooth trims and monitoring of tooth length.
Preventing Overgrown Teeth in Rats
The best way to keep your rat's teeth at a normal length is to provide them with something to chew on. Safe wood, rat pellets, and toys that allow a rat to gnaw will naturally wear these teeth down to a safe length. Sometimes rats are simply born with malformed teeth due to inbreeding though, and it may be difficult for them to properly chew and wear their teeth down.
Mancinelli, Elisabetta, and Vittorio Capello. Anatomy And Disorders Of The Oral Cavity Of Rat-Like And Squirrel-Like Rodents. Veterinary Clinics Of North America: Exotic Animal Practice, vol 19, no. 3, 2016, pp. 871-900. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2016.04.008
Routine Health Care of Rats. Merck Veterinary Manual.
Health Problems With Rats. Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital, 2020
Routine Health Care Of Rats. Veterinary Manual, 2020