Dogs and cats vary in their need for dental care.  Cats have special concerns that make them more prone to dental disease at a younger age.  Diseases such as Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus can cause gingivitis and periodontitis to develop at an accelerated rate.  Uniquely, cats develop external root resorption, also called “neck lesions”.  These are deep cavities, or holes, in the tooth at the gum line.  The lesions continue to enlarge until the tooth breaks off at the gum line, leaving the root behind.  This very painful condition occurs in up to 50% of our cats.  With proper dental care, these lesions can be treated and possibly prevented.  Cats and dogs can also have misaligned teeth due to retained deciduous (baby) teeth, trauma, tumors, and genetically-based tooth alignment.  Veterinarians can perform many procedures to aid with these conditions. Dogs have behaviors that predispose them to dental disease such as chewing rocks and bones, catching Frisbees and balls, and biting at fences and cages. These behaviors can damage the teeth, traumatizing or exposing the root pulp and leading to tooth abscess and extraction.

Signs and Symptoms of Dental Disease Are:

Ø       Plaque and Tartar build-up
Ø       Red or swollen gum (gingivitis)
Ø       Bad breath (halitosis)
Ø       Gum recession
Ø       Loose teeth
Ø       Discolored teeth
Ø       Excessive drooling
Ø       Reluctance to eat hard food or chew toys
Ø       Chewing on one side of the mouth
Ø       Runny nose
Ø       Swollen face
Ø       Pawing at mouth

Pre-Operative Care:
A dental evaluation should be a part of every pet’s annual physical examination by your veterinarian.  Your veterinarian can recommend treatments and maintenance practices to ensure good oral hygiene.  The annual exam also provides an opportunity to discuss specific concerns regarding your pet.  Older animals are required to have pre-anesthetic bloodwork prior to the procedure, although it is strongly recommended for all pets.  Depending upon the age and/or health of your pet, chest x-rays, a urinalysis, an ECG, and other lab tests may be requested prior to the procedure to identify and address any underlying diseases. Animals with more severe dental disease may be started on an antibiotic prior to the procedure to help prevent the spread of infection from the mouth to the blood stream and other organs.

Description:
A professional dental cleaning and polishing is performed by your veterinarian and dental technician while your pet is under general anesthesia.  One of the most important parts of the process is cleaning off the tartar that collects below the gumline.  This cannot be accomplished when an animal is awake, even if the animal is extremely tolerant.  The plaque and tartar accumulation is scaled off with a hand scaler, and then the remaining plaque and tartar is removed with an ultra-sonic scaler.     A tooth by tooth evaluated is preformed for tooth mobility, extra, broken, or missing teeth, lesions on the tooth surface, cavities, gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of the gum), infection, and pockets (spaces where the gum is no longer adhered to the tooth).. The veterinarian may also need to take x-rays of an individual tooth with a dental x-ray unit to see if there are any problems with the tooth root and its associated bones.

 If extractions are necessary, the animal will have the benefit of both anesthesia and postoperative pain medications.  Retained deciduous teeth (baby teeth) should also be extracted before misalignment of the permanent teeth can occur. Some animals may need treatment by a dental specialist for root canals or orthodontic procedures.  If a tooth does need to be extracted, the veterinarian will separate the tooth from the surrounding gums with a tooth root elevator.  Larger teeth may need to be drilled into smaller pieces before they can be elevated and removed.  Tooth extraction can be a very painful procedure and post-operative pain management is highly recommended.  Once the teeth are cleaned and any extractions performed, the teeth are polished with a dental prophy paste and a protective sealant is applied.

Prognosis:
In addition to anesthetic complications, bleeding, loss of appetite, infection, and jaw fractures can occur.  Most dental disease can be improved greatly by professional and at-home care.  With good dental care and routine dental cleanings, most dental problems can be cured or controlled if addressed early enough in the dental disease process.

Post-Operative Care:
After any anesthetic procedure, the pet’s activity level should be minimized for 3-5 days.  Animals that have had extractions should be offered soft food for 24-72 hours after the procedure. Post-operative pain management and antibiotic treatment should be continued at home.

Prevention:
Good quality diets and dental care provided by the owner can help slow the development of plaque, tartar, gingivitis and periodontal disease.  Routine home dental care involves brushing the pet's teeth with a soft brush and veterinary toothpaste.  Human toothpaste contains detergents that will cause gastrointestinal upset and vomiting if swallowed, fluoride that can be toxic if swallowed, and foaming ingredients that will cause excessive salivation.  Most veterinary pastes come in flavors such as beef, chicken, and seafood that help make brushing more enjoyable for a pet.  There are also oral rinses, chews, sealants, anti-bacterial additives for your pet’s drinking water, and special dental diets. Discuss with a veterinarian the most effective plan for your pet.