Bridging (rodents)
Bridging is a misaligned tooth in rodents in which the molars gradually collide like a bridge from the left and right over the tongue . Controlled food intake is no longer possible because the tongue is blocked and the animal can no longer chew and swallow. Heavy salivation is often an externally recognizable feature.
The causes can be genetic, but mostly result from an improper diet. So mainly hay , vegetables and green fodder should be fed instead of high-energy pellet or grain food so that there is sufficient friction during the chewing process . The bridge formation is treated after inserting a mouth and cheek spreader with corrective pliers or by grinding with dental drills and is generally carried out under anesthesia .