What is gingivitis?
Gingivitis is defined as "increased bacteria with inflammation of gum and connective tissue" Gingivitis leads to periodontal disease. Gingivitis is reversible with proper dental care.
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is the loss of connective tissue (ligaments and bone), which holds the teeth in place. Periodontal disease leads to tooth loss. This is considered to be one of the most common ailments seen in dogs. By age three, ninety percent of dogs have some degree of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is treatable but not reversible.
What is plaque?
Plague is a combination of bacteria, saliva and food debris that attaches to the surface of the tooth.
What is tartar?
Tartar is mineral rich calculus that develops over plaque. It allows bacteria to reproduce under the gum line, which leads to periodontal disease.
Who is at risk?
There are many factors effecting risk including breed, genetics, age, diet, chewing behavior and systemic health. Small breed dogs are the most commonly affected. These include but are not limited to Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Dachshund., Mini Schnauzer, Chihuahua, Poodle, Pug, Japanese Chin , Cairn Terrier, and the Norfolk and Norwich Terriers. Large breed dogs can also be affected. The most common large breed affected is the Greyhound. Typically the older the dog, the more advanced the disease. Dogs fed soft food their whole life are more likely to develop dental disease. Dogs that chew dental bones or chews will have less dental disease, but some dogs that chew too aggressively may actually fracture their teeth which leads to tooth loss.
Why is it so important to prevent periodontal disease?
Many organ systems are affected by periodontal disease. The effects are due to bacteria and immune system inflammatory products that circulate in the blood stream. Cardiac disease is the most commonly talked about association. It is believed that heart valves can be damaged by the bacteria and occasionally Endocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) can be seen. The most common organ affected is the kidneys. Periodontal disease has been linked to Glomerulonephritis, and Pyelonephritis. Both of these disease processes cause permanent kidney damage and will eventually lead to kidney failure. There has also been some research into the relationship of periodontal disease to respiratory and liver diseases.
Is periodontal disease painful for my dog?
Yes, since periodontal disease causes loss of connective tissue, the teeth hurt when a dog chews. Many dogs will be reluctant to chew on toys or bones. Most dog will still eat regardless of the degree of gum disease.
What can be done to prevent this disease?
Most importantly pay attention to your dogs teeth. Look at the teeth at least once a month. If you see tartar (brown or yellow substance on the surface of the tooth), redness of the gums or broken teeth, seek veterinary advice. If you do not see these things, then simply provide chew toys. There are many different shaped, and different textured bones to help encourage chewing with certain teeth. If your dog does not like to chew toys then you can learn how to brush the teeth. It is important to teach your dog to allow you to do a dental exam. If your dog does not allow you to look in it's mouth then seek veterinary help.
Can I use human toothpaste to brush my dogs teeth?
No, human toothpastes have phosphates which can upset dogs stomachs. Since dogs generally eat toothpaste when you brush we have to use products that are safe to eat. Most veterinary toothpastes are enzymatic. The enzymes help breakdown the plaque, but are safe to eat.
If my dog has bad breath does it mean he/she has periodontal disease?
No. Periodontal disease is the most common cause of bad breath, or halitosis, but gastrointestinal problems, kidney disease and diabetes can also cause halitosis.
When I bring my dog to the veterinarian what will he/she do?
The veterinarian will do a complete physical exam, including looking in the mouth and assessing all teeth. If gingivitis or periodontal disease is evident they will recommend that a dentistry be performed. Sometimes diagnostic tests will be recommended to rule out kidney or other organ disease.
How is a Dentistry performed?
A dentistry is performed by a licensed veterinarian and does involve general anesthesia. The dog is sedated and placed on gas anesthesia. Then the teeth are cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler. The ultrasonic scaler removes tartar without damaging the tooth's enamel. All plaque and tartar are removed and all gingival pockets are cleaned out. Any teeth that are damaged, have exposed roots or are loose are extracted. After the teeth are cleaned they are polished, which helps seal the enamel.
Can my dog have a dentistry without anesthesia?
No. In order to properly clean all tooth surfaces, anesthesia is necessary. There are people who can scrape tartar off the teeth, but that is not a true dentistry. Manually scraping tartar off of teeth can also damage the tooth's enamel layer.
How much will a dentistry cost?
If your dog needs a simple cleaning usually the cost will be approximately 200 - 350 dollars. The cost can escalate if radiographs need to be performed or teeth need to be extracted. A dentistry on an animal with severe periodontal disease can cost 500 - 1000 dollars.
Will my dog be in pain after a dentistry?
If your dog has a simple dentistry they will be moderately uncomfortable and will generally eat normally immediately after the procedure. If your dog has extensive work done on the teeth and gums, anti-inflammatory medication is usually prescribed. If teeth have to be extracted your veterinarian will most likely perform a local anesthetic injection to block the pain, and your dog will be prescribed an anti-inflammatory.
Are there any advances in medicine to help my dog's teeth?
Yes. There is a new vaccine available that protects against the most common bacteria that cause gum disease. This vaccine has only a conditional license with the FDA, but is now being used on very high risk breeds. There are 3 products used during a dentistry that have a lot of promise: the first is a product called Ora-vet. It is a product that is applied to the teeth after they are cleaned and it acts as a barrier to prevent plaque from attaching to the tooth. The owner then applies the product once a week. The second is a product called Doxy-robe. it is used during a dentistry, when deep gingival pockets are threatening a tooth's integrity. The gel is infused into the pocket and delivers an antibiotic for a few weeks to help the periodontal ligaments repair. The third product is called Consil. It is used during a dentistry where there is actual bone loss surrounding a tooth's root. This product forms a matrix where new bone cells can form to hold the tooth in place.
Does diet play a role in healthy teeth?
Yes. there has been some studies showing that dry food does help in reducing tartar formation. There are also a few special diets on the market to be used on those dog's that have high risk of periodontal disease. The diet that has been researched the most is Hills T/D diet. This diet has been proven to prevent periodontal disease. You can get a list of products available to help prevent dental disease at www.VOHC.org . This web site is run by the veterinary oral health counsel. This organization performs research on veterinary dental products.
Will rawhide help my dogs teeth?
Yes, there have been studies done that show chewing rawhide does help remove plaque. Technically the act of chewing on something is what is removing the plaque. Some dogs have gastrointestinal problems with rawhide so you need to be careful. There are many different chew toys and bones that have a similar effect on plaque removal.
If my dog's baby teeth do not fall out do they need to be removed?
Yes. Baby teeth, or decidious teeth, should fall out as the adult teeth come in. Sometimes, mainly in small breed dogs, the baby teeth are retained and the dog then has 2 teeth very close together. Because the teeth are touching, food and debris gets wedged between them and in time will cause periodontal disease. If left alone the adult tooth's root will be compromised at an early age. Many veterinarians opt to remove retained decidious teeth at the same time as a spay or neuter procedure.
If my dog's adult teeth do not come in is there a problem?
Sometimes. Many dogs can genetically not have the normal amount of teeth. Dogs should have between 40 and 42 teeth in their mouth. If a tooth does not emerge it is either missing or has not erupted. The only way to differentiate is to have dental radiographs performed. If a tooth has not erupted it may be impacted and never come in. That tooth may never cause the dog a problem but very rarely can become infected and need to be removed.
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Dr. Ellen Leonhardt
Animal General
East Norwich
(516) 624-7500
THIS SITE PROVIDES INFORMATION, NOT MEDICAL ADVICE
Information on this web site is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your veterinarian or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. You should always speak with your veterinarian before giving any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement to your dog, or adopting any treatment for a health problem. For any products or services purchased from this web site, you should read carefully all product packaging and instructions.
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