Why should I care about my pets teeth?

Periodontal Disease is a painful inflammatory condition in which bacteria attack the gums, ligaments, and boney tissues that support and surround the teeth. The bacteria can also enter the blood stream where it will travel.  Adverse effects can and will occur in the following:

• Mouth-It can cause bad breath, soreness of the gum tissue and loose or missing teeth.
• Lungs- It may cause a bronchial or respiratory infection.
• Kidneys- It can lead to a kidney infection that could end up causing permanent damage.
• Heart- It could cause heart inflammation and damage.
• Liver- It can cause a variety of different liver disorders.
• Nervous system- Occasionally bacteria can cross over into the brain and affect the nervous system and may cause meningitis.

Bacteria can also lead to plaque. Plaque is a build up of bacteria, salivary proteins and food debris. It collects in the groove of the teeth, damages the gums, and if untreated can lead to a deeper infection. Plaque build-up hardens and forms tartar.

What are some warning signs?

What can I do?

If tartar has already started to form on your pets teeth, a professional dental cleaning and polishing may need to be performed by your veterinarian.  A professional cleaning is performed with your pet under anesthesia and will remove the plaque and tartar build-up on the teeth as well as under the gum-line.

What actually happens during a dental cleaning?

There are 5 main steps to a professional dental cleaning and polishing.

Step 1 Oral Cleaning

All the teeth are cleaned by the use of hand scaling and ultra-sonic scalers.  Tartar and plaque are removed on the tooth surface and under the gum line.

Step 2 Tooth by tooth assessment

• Each tooth is evaluated for motility, fractures, lesions, and cavities.
• Teeth are probed and pockets measured. (A pocket is a detachment of the gum from the tooth roots)
• Radiographs are taken to evaluate bone loss and tooth root damage or infection.
• Extra or missing teeth are noted and recorded.
• The gum tissue is examined for infection or excessive growth (hyperplasia).
• All findings are charted on a dental evaluation chart.

Step 3 Treatment

Once evaluated, each tooth is treated as needed whether it be subgingival scaling, extraction, gingivectomy (removal of excess gum tissues), or referral to a dental specialist for root canal or other treatment.

 

Step 4 Prevention

• The mouth is flushed with a bacteria killing rinse that removes debris and other infectious agents from the subgingival area, allowing the mouth to heal without the fear of infection.
• The teeth are polished to smooth any grooves that may be in the teeth helping to maintain the enamel.
• A protective sealant is placed over the teeth to help prevent harmful bacteria from adhering to the tooth's surface.

Step 5 At Home Care

• Medications such as antibiotics and pain medications may be needed to help the teeth heal properly after a dental cleaning.
• The protective sealant put on your pet's teeth during a professional dental cleaning should be applied at home.  A simple application once a week may help prolong the time between dental cleanings.
• There are special dental diets and treats available from your veterinarian that are designed to help break down tartar, prolonging the time between dental exams and cleaning procedures.
• Oral rinses or additives to a pet's drinking water are available to help minimize the amount of harmful bacteria present in your pets mouth.

The best care for your pets teeth is
brushing on a regular basis.

Ask your vet about special toothpaste and tooth brushes that you can use. Dogs and cats require a special kind of toothpaste. DO NOT USE HUMAN TOOTHPASTE. Most human toothpaste is not meant to be swallowed. By brushing your pet's teeth at home you may be able to decrease the amount of periodontal disease and plaque build-up in your pet's mouth.  Therefore decreasing the frequency of the dental cleanings needed with your vet.

But my pet hates his teeth brushed!

Take small steps.  Start by rubbing their muzzle on a daily basis; right over where the teeth are.  Don't try and lift the lip or open their mouth, and reward them with praise or a dental treat for sitting still.  When they are comfortable with that.  Trying lifting their lips to see the teeth, then move on to rubbing your finger over their teeth without toothpaste and then with toothpaste.  Eventually you will be able to move on to a figure brush or a toothbrush.  But remember to take it slow, and always reward them for each positive step.

Start when they are puppies and kittens.  Your pet will be much open to having their teeth brushed if they learn it from an early age.  And just as with children as long as they have teeth they should be care for.

For a more detailed description visit:
Professional Dental Cleaning and Polishing

Dental disease in pets, just as in humans, can be controlled with the proper care. Ask your vet to evaluate your pets teeth and recommend the best course of action for your pet.