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DENTAL DISEASE
TAKE YOUR PETS BAD BREATH SERIOUSLY!
Your pet's bad breath may be more serious than just an unpleasant odor. Bad breath may be a sign of PERIODONTAL
DISEASE (bacteria attacking your pet's teeth and gums) or worse -- a fractured, abcessed, or decaying tooth.
Periodontal disease is now recognized as one of the most common ailments affecting dogs and cats! It is estimated
that 85% of pets 3 years of age or older have some form of dental disease. And periodontal disease doesn't just cause
bad breath, it also causes bone resorbtion, bone infection, tooth loss, pain, and gum disease and has been linked to
kidney disease, heart disease, pancreatitis, and liver disease. Yet dental care remains one of the most neglected health
care needs of our pets.
The good news is veterinary medicine has made huge strides in the development and delivery of dental care for
pets! And the doctors and staff at the Gresham Veterinary Hospital have made the educational and financial commitment
to bring state of the art veterinary dentistry to our patients. Our services include fully monitored anesthesia, preanesthetic
blood chemistry panels, regional nerve blocks, intraoperative IV fluid support, intraoperative and post operative pain control
digital dental intraoral radiography, ultrasonic scaling and prophylactic cleaning, periodontal disease treatment strategies and
where necessary, tooth extraction. We also offer oral health care education and training for our pet owners and we carry
tooth brush kits, finger brushes, tooth paste, dental washes, dental chews, and tartar reduction diets.
It is important to realize that all pets are at risk for developing dental disease, especially toy and miniature breeds of
dogs. Routine oral exams are aimed at catching and correcting dental problems in the earliest stages. Once your pet displays
any of the warning signs below, serious periodontal disease may be present:
- Bad Breath
- Yellow-Brown crust on teeth
- Change of eating or chewing habits
- Tooth loss
- Change in behavior
- Abnormal drooling
-
Pets vary in the amount and frequency of tartar and calculus buildup and the degree of gum disease depending on the
type of diet, chewing habits, breed, heredity, and occulsion (the way the teeth interlock and meet in the mouth.) Without
daily home dental care, the average cat or dog needs to have the first professional dental cleaning at 3 years of age.
Professional dental cleaning and thorough oral examinations should be completed every 6 to 12 months as the pet ages.
COMMON DENTAL PROBLEMS
Retained deciduous teeth (baby teeth)
Primarily common of the canine teeth, these are considered retained if both the permanent (adult) teeth and the baby teeth
occupy the same location in the mouth at the same time. If the baby teeth do not fall out by the time the permanent teeth
are fully erupted, they should be extracted to avoid crowding other teeth, and excessive calculus buildup which leads to gum
disease.
Fractured teeth
Depending on the age and severity of the fracture, endodontic techniques such as root canal and/or crown work are available.
Severely fractured teeth are extracted, however no fractured tooth should go ignored. The tooth will eventually become infected
and very painful for the pet.
Worn teeth
Unlike fractured teeth, tooth wear often occurs over an extended period of time. Although the crown of the tooth may be very
worn down, these teeth are not typically sensitive or painful. Gentle dental probing during an exam will often determine whether
further treatment is needed.
Gingivitis
This inflammation of the gums is caused by bacteria harbored in tartar and calculus between the gums and teeth. The bacteria
eventually cause irritation and inflammation which leads to infection. As gingivitis progresses, the gums become swollen and
very inflamed, and even ulcerated. This causes discomfort, which may be indicated by pain in chewing, or a decreased
appetite. An early indication of gingivitis is bad breath.
Periodontal disease
Excessive dental calculus and gingivitis left untreated leads to periodontal disease, in which there is actual loss of bone
surrounding each tooth. Early bone loss may only be visible on a dental x-ray, but will eventually manifest as a loose tooth.
This bone loss is not reversible. Periodontal disease may be mild to severe. Mild bone loss is found during an oral exam and
dental charting with a dental probe during a professional cleaning. More severe disease may be easily seen as pus like
discharge around the teeth and gums.
There are 4 stages of Dental Disease
| |
Grade |
Plague and caculus |
Gum Health |
Radiologic Changes |
Prognosis |
Early
gingivitis |
Grade I |
Mild amount of plaque |
Mild redness |
No change |
Reversible |
Advanced
Gingivitis |
Grade II |
Subgingival Plaque |
Redness and edema |
Little change |
Reversible |
Early
Periodontitis |
Grade III |
Subgingival calculus |
Redness, edema, gums bleed
with gentle probing, gum
recession or hyperplasia |
Subgingival calculus,
10-30% loss of bone
support |
Irreversible |
Established
Periodontitis |
Grade IV |
Larger amounts of
subgingival calculus |
Severe inflammation, gum
recession, loose teeth
and/or missing teeth, pus,
gums bleed easily, deep
pockets |
Over 30% bone loss |
Irreversible |
Overall Health Concerns of Dental Disease in your Pet
Maintaining good dental health is not just to get rid of "bad doggy breath." Advanced periodontal disease can destroy
tissue, resulting in serious infections and eventually can cause irreversible organ damage. Not only do affected pets develop
nauseating halitosis and find it painful to eat, the inflammation in their mouths can result in the spread of bacteria in their
blood streams to internal organs. Periodontal conditions have been linked with systemic diseases and disorders. Bacterial
invasion can damage the delicate kidney membranes so that filtration and transport of body waste becomes impared.
Bacteria entering the blood stream from infected gums can also seriously damage your pet's liver and result in liver
disease. Since the liver can function fairly effectively at 70-80% capacity, liver damage may be in an advanced state by the
time symptoms are noticed.
Blood born bacteria that enter from the gums can also colonize on the valves of the heart and cause valvular disease
resulting in heart murmurs and cardiac insufficency.
Periodontal disease rapidly becomes irreversible. We do not want you or your pet to go through that diagnosis.
Reduce the Risk of Periodontal Disease by:
- Regular visits to your veterinarian which include an oral exam
- Veterinary dental cleaning as needed based on routine oral exams
- At home dental health care by brushing teeth at least 2-3 times a week, but preferably every day.
- Using a daily oral rinse which you can purchase here at our hospital
- Giving good dental chews which can help prevent tartar buildup (we recommend C.E.T. HESka chews, also
available here at our office!!)
Take a look at these pictures!!!
Normal Mouth:
Canine: Feline:
 
Stage I Dental Disease:
 
Stage II Dental Disease:
 
Stage III Dental Disease:
 
Stage IV Dental Disease:
 
Before and After!!!
 
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