The level of dental care available for our pets has been constantly improving and now rivals what is available for people. From regular dental cleanings to advanced periodontal treatments, root canals and orthodontics; veterinary dentistry is improving pet dental health and extending the quality life of cats and dogs.

PREVENTION

            Most people understand that daily care of our teeth and gums is important for a healthy body. What you may not realize is that the same is true for pets. Over 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over 4 years old suffer from periodontal disease, a condition in which bacteria attack the gums. As plaque builds up on the teeth bacteria multiply on the teeth and gums. The bacteria irritate the gums, which become red, swollen and painful. Eventually the inflamed gums pull away from the teeth creating pockets that trap more bacteria. The pockets deepen and bacteria begin to attack the roots of the teeth and the bone of the jaw. At this point the gums bleed every time the pet eats and bacteria enter the blood stream, which may increase the risk for kidney and heart disease. With enough bone loss around the roots teeth become loose, painful and eventually fall out. Prevention is the key to proper dental health. The American Veterinary Dental Society recommends a full dental cleaning every six months for your pet, just the same as your dentist recommends for you. Imagine what your cleaning would be like if you did not brush your teeth between visits to the dentist. Dental home care is the single

most important aspect of regular dental care. With proper home care your pet may not need as frequent professional dental cleanings, thus saving you the expense, and your pet the additional anesthetic.

            Brushing your pet’s teeth is by far the best home care available. Brushes reach between teeth and gums to remove tiny deposits of food. There are toothbrushes designed specifically to conform to your pets mouth, as well as, finger brushes for small dogs and cats. In most cases only the outside portion (cheek side) of the teeth need to be brushed. The tongue side is usually kept clean by normal tongue activity and saliva. Starting your brushing regimen when your pet is a puppy or kitten will result in greater levels of cooperation.

Do not use human toothpaste on your pet. Toothpaste for people contains sudsing agents that are not expected to be swallowed. These will upset your pet’s stomach. Pet toothpaste comes in a variety of flavors; mint (people prefer it, animals usually do not), poultry and malt. Pet toothpaste also has an enzymatic cleaner that helps break down plaque after brushing is done. Your veterinarian or veterinary technician can demonstrate proper brushing and provide the appropriate product for your pet.

For those pets that will not allow anyone to touch their teeth, there are dental products that can be sprayed into the mouth as an anti- plaque wash or applied to a cloth and rubbed on the teeth and gums.

Some pets want no part of preventative dental care. For these animals dental treats may be the best option. There are rawhides for dogs and freeze- dried catfish treats for cats, both types treated with enzymatic dentifrice to help remove plaque. Hills T/D dog and cat food will also help remove plaque from the chewing teeth, but should only be fed to pets that are starting with clean teeth, as it may push plaque below the gum line.

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING

            A thorough dental cleaning requires general anesthesia for our pets, as they are reluctant to sit in the dental chair with open mouths. Each tooth is individually evaluated for looseness, gum health, and gingival pockets. Diseased teeth should be radio graphed  (x-rayed) to evaluate the amount of bone loss and the health of the roots. Severely diseased teeth may need more advanced care or have to be removed. Calculus is removed by hand scaling and ultrasonic scaling both above and below the gum line. All teeth are polished and given a fluoride treatment. When your pet’s teeth are clean and smooth it is best to start a dedicated home care program, although your doctor may recommend waiting a week if the gums are particularly sore.

ROOT CANALS AND CROWNS

            Pets that chew on hard material; bone, sticks, cow hooves, or rocks may fracture a piece of the crown off a chewing tooth. The canine or “fang” teeth are prone to impact type injuries when a pet is playing roughly or is injured in an accident. These teeth may break or become discolored. Any broken tooth with exposure to the pulp chamber, the nerve and blood vessels, or a discolored tooth needs a root canal to preserve the tooth and prevent a root abscess from forming. If a tooth is damaged too severely or the root canal procedure is not affordable an extraction of the tooth is the next best choice. Access to the pulp chamber is made with a drill, and all of the living tissue is removed with files. The chamber is sterilized, filled with a combination of paste and small cones of a plastic- like plant material called gutta- percha. An insulation layer is placed and the openings are closed with a composite that matches the color of the tooth.

            A root canal preserves the tooth, but does not restore a broken tooth to the size or appearance prior to the injury. A police or hunting dog that has broken one or more canine teeth may need a crown to restore the ability to bite and hold a criminal or retrieve a bird. A crown brings the tooth back to its original size and function. Placing a crown requires that the tooth be shaped for the crown at the time of the root canal. Impressions are made with a soft plastic that hardens with time. This is sent to a dental lab where the crown is made with composite resins or metal alloy. Approximately a week after the root canal the pet returns and the crown is bonded to the tooth.

ORTHODONTICS