What is dental disease?

Plaque, tartar, gingivitis, and periodontal disease are the basic forms of dental disease. Animals may have different stages of dental disease as described below.

Stage I periodontal disease shows gingivitis with no attachment loss. Some pets may have significant dental calculus with minimal gingivitis while others may have severe inflammation with minimal plaque and calculus. This stage of periodontal disease results in inflammation, edema, plaque and calculus accumulation.

Stage II periodontal disease is defined by the patient having 25% to 50% attachment loss of the periodontal ligament. In this stage there is significant bone loss around the tooth socket, allowing the teeth to become unstable.

Stage III periodontal disease is defined by the patient having up to 25% attachment loss of the ligament (the periodontal ligament) that holds the tooth in the socket. This can only be determined by probing the gums or dental radiographs.

Stage IV periodontal disease is defined by the patient having greater than 50% attachment loss of the periodontal ligament. In this stage of periodontal disease there is severe loss of the bone around the tooth socket, allowing the teeth to become extremely loose.

How do I know if my pet has dental disease?

Periodontal disease is one of the most common diseases of dogs. It has been estimated that 85% of dogs have some degree of periodontal disease by 3 years of age.

Although small-breeds and brachycephalic (short-faced: boxers, pugs, Pekingese, etc.) breeds of dogs are predisposed to periodontal disease, it can occur in dogs of any size.

For cats, dental health can vary depending on the type of food he consistently eats and genetics.

Some common signs that may indicate that your pet has dental disease include:

• Bad breath!!!
• Yellow or brown deposits on the teeth at the edges of the gums (these will be rough-looking crusts in an advanced case and may cover the entire tooth!).
• Reddened gum edges.
• Receding gums, revealing tooth roots.
• Drooling or excessive saliva (this may be tinged with blood.)
• Lack of appetite.
• Mouth pain (pawing at mouth or rubbing the side of mouth along the ground).
• Difficulty with chewing food or dropping food.
• Inability to close the mouth.
• Facial swelling (this may indicate a tooth root abscess).

Why is keeping my pet's teeth clean so important?

While the cosmetic consequences of periodontal disease can be the most obvious and concerning to the pet owner, periodontal disease can have serious physiologic consequences such as destruction of underlying bone and tooth loss. Gingivitis can be reversed when it is identified early and appropriately treated. However, once there is loss of the periodontal ligament and the bone around it the damage is permanent. Severely infected mouths can lead to bacteria entering the blood stream which may affect the heart, liver, and kidneys. Chronic dental disease can have a negative impact on the overall quality of life of your pet.

What happens to my pet during a dental cleaning?

Your pet's dental cleaning is similar to your own cleaning, only under anesthesia. The cleaning process is performed by a trained veterinary technician under the supervision of your doctor. The dental prophylaxis, or cleaning, begins with chipping the largest accumulations tartar from the teeth. The teeth are then cleaned thoroughly with an ultrasonic scaler. Finally, hand scalers are used to clean up any remaining bits of calculus from under the gum line, from grooves or from between teeth that the ultrasonic scaler could not reach. The teeth are then polished to smooth any microscopic scratches where plaque likes to hide that might have been caused by the dental instruments.

At this time, the veterinarian will evaluate the health of the teeth by checking each individual tooth with a dental probe. At this time, any problem areas will be noted. Teeth may need to be radiographed in order to determine the health of the tooth's root and determine the stage of dental disease. If the tooth is obviously damaged to the point that it cannot be reversed, tooth extraction is recommended. Most pets do well with multiple tooth extractions, in most cases. Once the extraction sites heal, your pet's mouth will be more comfortable than it was previously with loose or damaged teeth. If you would prefer that a particular tooth not be extracted we may be able to refer you to a veterinary dental specialist for a root canal or crown.

After your pet's cleaning and polishing process, a plaque prevention barrier called OraVet is applied. It significantly reduces plaque and tartar formation by creating an invisible barrier that prevents bacteria from attaching to your pet's teeth. You will be given a complimentary box of OraVet, a 2-month supply, at the time of your pet's discharge from the hospital.

How can I help to keep my pet's teeth clean and healthy at home?

Home care is essential to prevent dental disease and maintain oral health before and after dental cleanings. There are several options for home care which may be used in combination. Pick the right method or methods for your pet or ask us for recommendations.

• Daily brushing is the best single method for controlling dental disease. We carry CET products have enzymes that help break down plaque when brushing.

• Plaque Prevention – Oravet provides a barrier against plaque formation.

• Oral gels and rinses – reduce bacterial levels in mouth but will not physically remove plaque. We carry CET Oral Rinse and Maxiguard Gel.

• Tartar control diet – T/D by Hill's can reduce tartar simply by feeding it to your pet.
  

How do I Brush my pets teeth?

If you have a puppy or kitten, you should start handling his mouth in preparation for tooth brushing as soon as you bring him home. The best time to accustom a pet to this experience is when he is young. If your pet is a wriggler, you may need someone's help to restrain him at first.

Initially, simply allow your pet to become used to having his head held and his lips pulled back. Reward his good behavior immediately with a snack or tiny piece of his favorite food.

Once he accepts this, insert a suitable toothbrush into the pouch formed by his cheek. Hold it there for a few seconds, and then remove it. Practice this until your pet is happy with it, rewarding him every time at first and then only intermittently.

When your pet becomes familiar with the brush, move on to brushing movements. Hold the brush at an angle of 45 degrees to the teeth (upwards or downwards towards the gum line), and move it gently in an oval pattern. Brush the back teeth at first, then move on to the more sensitive area at the front of the mouth. Only start using toothpaste when you are sure that your pet will tolerate the brushing itself.

Do's and don'ts of dental home care

• Don't use a human tooth paste on your pet
• Do use a tooth brush without any paste at first so that your pet may get used to the object in the mouth before having to contend with flavor
• Don't attempt to clean the inner surface of your pet's teeth. Natural saliva cleans this surface on its own
• Do try to perform dental home care at least once daily
• Don't perform dental home care during the first week after a full dentistry in the hospital as your pet's gums may be tender
• Don't let your dog chew on cow hooves as these are too hard and teeth may break against them
• Don't consider dental home care as an alternative to full dental cleaning if your pet has more advanced dental disease.
• Don't consider dental cleanings as an alternative to home care. We'll get things started but you have to do your part at home!

Dental Glossary

• Calculus- a synonym for tartar
• Dental probe - an instrument that can aid in identification of enamel chipping, nerve exposure, or gum recession
• Gingivitis- inflammation of the gingiva, or gums.
• Periodontal - concerning the teeth and gums
• Plaque - an invisible coating of proteins and bacteria that buildup on teeth. This turns into tartar as early as 24 hours of forming.
• Radiographs - x-rays
• Resorption - the body's act of dissolving a tissue
• Stomatitis - inflammation of the mouth
• Tartar - hard yellow/brown rough buildup on the teeth (also called calculus)
• Ultrasonic scaler - a curved metal instrument that vibrates at a very high speed and breaks up the dental buildup

For additional information please see our recommended links:

• Oravet.com
• Cetdental.com
• Maxiguard
• T/D