Dental prophylaxis or a dental cleaning is one of the most common anesthetic procedures done in veterinary clinics. Who has not ever commented on their pet’s breath? Dental disease can cause many problems such as: bad breath, loss of teeth, chronic infections of the gums, inflammation of the kidneys and liver and can interfere with eating and cause pain. Dogs and cats don’t get cavities like people do. Pets primarily have issues with tartar build up and secondary periodontal disease. Tartar or calculus is hardened plaque on the teeth formed by minerals, debris and bacterial action. Pets are also likely to fracture their teeth. Cats do get a cavity-like tooth problem, called “Feline Oral Resoptive Lesions (FORL) also known as “Cervical Line Lesions” (CLL) since they occur on the neck of the tooth (where the tooth meets the gum line). These lesions cause a cats enamel to be eaten away and exposes dentin and the crown of the tooth can fracture off. These lesions are painful for the cat.
The bacteria in the mouth cause the plaque on the teeth to become mineralized. As the tartar worsens and goes under the gum line the tooth will slowly loose its attachment to the bone. This loss of the periodontal ligament is known as a“pocket”. As the pocket worsens from the subgingival (under the gum) infection it will cause the tooth to loosen and may even reach the root area and cause a root abscess. Patients with bad dental disease will have halitosis from the periodontal disease and high bacterial population in the mouth. Giving the patient antibiotics for the teeth will also help the breath. Severe halitosis can be a sign of an abscessed tooth. This is why brushing with antibacterial toothpaste made for your pet is so important. You can use a soft bristle brush and just focus on the outside of teeth along the gum line. It also helps to chew rawhide and other dental treats. There are also dog foods that are made to help prevent tartar build up. Ask your veterinarian what they recommend.
A very common injury in dogs and cats is to get a fractured tooth. Cats tend to fracture their upper canine teeth by bumping them on something hard. They will get swelling at the gum line and may get a sinus infection when the root infection invades the sinus area. Dogs frequently get slab fractures of their upper fourth premolars from gnawing too hard on a bone or chewing rocks or something else hard. If the pulp canal is exposed (visible as a blood spot) it will eventually lead to a root abscess. A dog with swelling of the face just below the eye may have may have a root abscess. These are painful and require extraction. Advanced dentistry like a root canal can only be done if it is a fresh fracture.
Periodic dental prophylactic cleanings where the teeth are scaled and polished will help slow the progression of gum disease. By removing the tartar you can have a fresh start and then do the brushing and other steps to prevent further tartar build up. If you do give your pet marrow bones be sure they are cooked and watch to see if your pet tries to crack the bone. If so you should take it away so you don’t have to have visit your veterinarian for an extraction!
The bacteria in the mouth cause the plaque on the teeth to become mineralized. As the tartar worsens and goes under the gum line the tooth will slowly loose its attachment to the bone. This loss of the periodontal ligament is known as a“pocket”. As the pocket worsens from the subgingival (under the gum) infection it will cause the tooth to loosen and may even reach the root area and cause a root abscess. Patients with bad dental disease will have halitosis from the periodontal disease and high bacterial population in the mouth. Giving the patient antibiotics for the teeth will also help the breath. Severe halitosis can be a sign of an abscessed tooth. This is why brushing with antibacterial toothpaste made for your pet is so important. You can use a soft bristle brush and just focus on the outside of teeth along the gum line. It also helps to chew rawhide and other dental treats. There are also dog foods that are made to help prevent tartar build up. Ask your veterinarian what they recommend.
A very common injury in dogs and cats is to get a fractured tooth. Cats tend to fracture their upper canine teeth by bumping them on something hard. They will get swelling at the gum line and may get a sinus infection when the root infection invades the sinus area. Dogs frequently get slab fractures of their upper fourth premolars from gnawing too hard on a bone or chewing rocks or something else hard. If the pulp canal is exposed (visible as a blood spot) it will eventually lead to a root abscess. A dog with swelling of the face just below the eye may have may have a root abscess. These are painful and require extraction. Advanced dentistry like a root canal can only be done if it is a fresh fracture.
Periodic dental prophylactic cleanings where the teeth are scaled and polished will help slow the progression of gum disease. By removing the tartar you can have a fresh start and then do the brushing and other steps to prevent further tartar build up. If you do give your pet marrow bones be sure they are cooked and watch to see if your pet tries to crack the bone. If so you should take it away so you don’t have to have visit your veterinarian for an extraction!
