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Val Caron Animal Hospital 3055 Highway 69 N Call: (705) 897-6947 or (705) 897-2312 |
(705)897-6947
valcaronanimalhospital.com
Understanding Dental Disease Dental disease is an extremely common and often painful
condition that can go unnoticed by pet owners. Dental disease begins with the
accumulation of plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a slime that is composed of
bacteria, saliva, and food particles that adhere to the teeth and fills the
pockets between the teeth and gum line. The plaque then becomes mineralized to
form calculus (tartar). When calculus accumulates on the teeth, it can build up
under the gum line. Once calculus is under the gum line, the body responds,
resulting in inflammation of the affected area. This usually begins with
gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and can lead to periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is the inflammation and infection of the structures
supporting the tooth. This includes the gums, the ligament attaching the tooth
to bone and the bone itself. As the inflammation and infection progresses, there
may be pus near the gum line and the tooth will become loose as the ligament
holding the tooth in place is affected. The infection will spread and cause
loss of bone and eventually loss of the tooth root, leading to very loose and
painful teeth.
There are several categories of dental disease based on the
level of inflammation of the gums, build up of calculus and amount of bone
loss. All categories require preventative measures and early treatment prior to
advanced progression.
The signs of dental disease your pet may or may not display
include bad breath, excessive drooling, difficulty eating, disinterest in
eating hard treats and chewing with or favouring one side of the mouth. In very
serious dental infections, animals may have decreased energy, decreased
appetite, have loose teeth or develop tooth root abscesses. It is important to
note that many animals have a high tolerance for pain or discomfort and
therefore it may be easy for dental disease to go unnoticed by pet owners.
Fortunately, dental disease can be prevented. The single
most effective way to prevent dental disease is to brush your pets' teeth. This
ideally should be performed daily. Tooth brushing should be a fun event for
your pet. It is important to start when puppies and kittens are young (8-12
weeks old) and to continue as your animal ages. Although baby teeth will be
replaced with adult teeth, brushing will get your pet used to the procedure and
will increase an animals' compliance as they age. Brushing begins with a soft
bristled tooth brush, finger toothbrush or a gauze wrapped finger, in
combination with an enzymatic toothpaste available from your veterinarian.
Human toothpaste should be avoided as it can be harmful to pets. When brushing
your pets' teeth, you need to brush the outer aspect of your pets' teeth with
your pets' mouth closed. The toothbrush bristles should be placed at the gum
margin where the teeth and gums meet. The movement should be in an oval pattern
and the bristle ends should move into the area around the base of the tooth as
well as into the space between the teeth.
When an animal has dental disease, various treatments are
available based on the severity of the disease. If mild disease is present,
treatment may include tooth brushing, water additives, oral rinses, dental
treats and veterinary dental diets, all which aim to reduce plaque and calculus
buildup. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) tests products that claim to
reduce plaque and calculus and therefore prevent and/or reduce dental disease.
For more information on a list of approved products please refer to www.vohc.org
Early treatment of dental disease may require dental
cleaning. A dental cleaning includes scaling and polishing the teeth under
general anesthesia. This is an extremely important procedure as both plaque and
calculus are eliminated both on the exposed area of the tooth but also under
the gum line. In moderate to severe cases, radiographs (x-rays) may be needed
to determine if the tooth roots are affected and if there has been loss of
bone. Loose teeth indicate that there is loss of attachment to the bone and the
teeth would need to be extracted.
In conclusion, the majority of animals will have some degree
of dental disease and numerous treatments are available. Most cases of dental
disease can be prevented by brushing your pets' teeth on a daily basis and
visiting your veterinarian for a yearly wellness exam. It is advantageous to
prevent and treat any disease early, rather than waiting until extensive dental
procedures are needed.
For more information on dental disease and other animal
diseases, please refer to www.veterinarypartner.com
and www.toothvet.ca
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