Your pet
depends on his teeth to eat and chew properly and
routine
oral health care is the key
to maintaining good teeth and gums. Dental
disease is the number one disease of companion animals and over 90% of
dogs and cats will have some degree of dental disease by the time they are
3 years old. The constant buildup of plaque and bacteria will lead to
tartar formation and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). In turn,
tartar and gingivitis lead to loose, painful
teeth and halitosis (bad breath). Bacteria from the mouth can get into the
bloodstream and can lead to infections of the liver, kidneys and heart
valves.
Because of these serious complications of
dental disease, we at North Shore Veterinary Hospital encourage regular
dental care for your pet. This care includes periodic professional
cleanings as well as home dental care and dietary recommendations.
Dental Exam
The first step towards good
dental health is the dental exam. All puppies and kittens should have
routine dental exams as their adult teeth are erupting to assure there are
no problems. Once the adult teeth are in, they should be examined at
least once a year and as your pet gets into it's older years (after about
7 years of age) we recommend dental exams at least twice a year. This
exam will allow us to evaluate your pet's dental health and recommend any
appropriate treatments. If your pet already has dental disease, we will
recommend a professional cleaning. If your pet does not currently have
dental health problems, we will recommend a home dental health program
that will help you to prevent or delay the development of dental disease.
Dental Grading
When we do a dental exam, we grade your pet's teeth/gums
on a scale of I-IV, with I being the lowest and IV being the highest level
of dental disease. These assessments are made primarily by
evaluating the degree of gingival disease in your pet's mouth. We
have included a picture gallery* and descriptions below, so that you may
better understand our assessment and the reasons why we recommend dental
cleaning for your pet. You can click on the small picture and a
larger picture will be displayed. Use your "back" button to return
to this page.
* The
picture gallery has been created from the "Atlas of Canine Dentistry:
Malocclusions and Breed Standards" published by Waltham USA, Inc.
For more information on Waltham and their products, please visit their
website at
http://www.waltham.com
A pet with Grade I dental disease has very
early signs of gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). There will be
a small degree of staining on the teeth and the gums next to the teeth
will have a small amount of light red discoloration, but no regression.
With Grade II dental disease, we begin to see significant
inflammation (redness) of the gums. In addition, the gums will begin
to sell and even recede slightly from the teeth.
When your pet's teeth get to Grade III status,
they have significant inflammation and swelling of the gums, but they also
have developed receding gum lines and early bone loss around the teeth.
Grade IV dental disease is the most severe; these teeth have all of
the signs of Grade III, but in addition, there will be a pus-like
discharge and the teeth will be unstable (loose).
All teeth benefit from dental cleaning. With
Grade I and Grade II teeth, we can remove the tartar and clean under the
gum line to prevent any further damage. With Grade III and Grade IV
teeth, we can evaluate the degree of boney destruction. If the tooth
is still stable, we can help it by cleaning, but if the tooth is loose, it
will likely need to be extracted to avoid the pain associated with the
dental decay.
Remember, prevention is the key - the more you do at
home to help the teeth and the more frequently you get them cleaned, the
longer they will stay in the mouth.
Professional Cleaning
If your pet has tartar or calculus buildup, gingivitis, halitosis, or
loose teeth, it is time to have a professional cleaning performed. This
procedure is very similar to the cleanings you may have experienced at
your own dentist. We evaluate all of your pets teeth and their
surrounding gums for any problems above or below the gum line. We then
use hand instruments to break free any dental calculus and clean the teeth
with an ultrasonic scaler. We then polish the teeth to help prevent new
bacteria from adhering to your pet's teeth. This procedure does require a
general anesthetic to be performed properly (see our page on anesthesia
for further information). Your pet will be able to go home the same day
the procedure is performed. Antibiotics will be prescribed for your pet
to prevent bacterial infection from the bacteria in the mouth. With older
pets, we will occasionally recommend "pulse therapy" with antibiotics - we
will prescribe a 10 to 14 day course of antibiotics every three months to
help reduce the bacteria which cause damage to the gums. After a
professional cleaning is performed, we encourage you to keep up good
dental health through home dental care.
Home Dental Care
Home dental care is the most important part of maintaining your pet's
dental health. Brushing your pet's teeth is the best way to prevent
tartar buildup and maintain healthy gums. Before you can brush your pet's
teeth, you should first get your pet used to having it's head and mouth
handled. We encourage you to handle the head and mouth as often as you
can (be sure to praise your pet while doing this). Lift up your pet's
lips, look at his teeth, rub his gums gently and praise him often.
Once your pet is willing to let you work with her mouth,
you can begin brushing the teeth. We recommend that you gradually work up
to a toothbrush. Start with something soft such as part of a washcloth, a
cotton applicator, or your finger. If you hurt the gums, your pet will
not be very tolerant of the brushing. As she gets used to the brushing,
you can work your way up to a finger brush, or a medium-bristled
children's toothbrush.
What about toothpaste? We strongly recommend that you use a product
made specifically for animals. Human toothpaste is not
meant to be swallowed and diges
ted,
so it may lead to gastrointestinal upset in your dog. There is toothpaste
made specifically for dogs as well as oral cleansing rinses that are safe.
Another option is the OraVet Plaque PreventionGel. After the
teeth are cleaned, the OraVet Gel can be applied once weekly and will help
slow down the buildup of new tartar.
For more information,
click here. (a new window will be opened)
Food and Your Pet's Dental Health
There are certain types of food that can help maintain
good dental health. In general, hard treats (such as Bonz) do not help
your pet’s teeth at all - they are chewed so quickly they don't have a
chance to help the teeth. Substances that your pet chews for extended
periods will help the teeth more. Examples include rawhide chews and
nylabones. There are also rawhide chews with dentrifice on them which
help the teeth (C.E.T. Chews). Do not leave your dog unsupervised with
chews, however, as dogs occasionally gag on the small pieces.
Hill’s
Prescription Diet t/d is designed specifically to reduce and delay tartar
buildup in pets. This diet is an excellent addition to your pet’s dental
care as well as his overall nutrition. Remember though, no foods or chews
will help the dental health of the incisors or canine teeth, as they are
not used in chewing. There is no substitute for hands-on dental care with
your pet.
