DENTAL CARE
Adults
Dental care is one of the most important parts of preventive medicine. Dental disease is not only painful and irritating locally, it can also lead to internal organ disease, especially heart disease. Dental care is necessary for your pet to have a happy and meaningful life.
PERIODONTAL DISEASE
This is the most common disease occurring in domestic dogs and cats. The impact of this disease on the rest of the body are the reason why all companion animal patients receive an oral examination included in the physical examination. A physical examination is recommended every 6 month to one Year.Periodontal tissues are the tissues that hold the tooth in the mouth. Periodontal disease is the plaque induced disease of any part of the periodontium. It is often separated into two conditions: gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gingiva. Inflammation is reversible. Removing the cause, periodontal disease, the inflammatory response disappears. Gingivitis is clinically seen as reddening and edema (swelling) of the gingiva (gums). Gingivitis can progress to visible ulceration and bleeding. Gingivitis is and indicator that conditions are right for permanent periodontal damage (perodontitis) to occur.
Periodontitis is inflammation of the non gingival periodontal tissues (ligament which attaches to the teeth and the bone). Perodontitis causes the destruction of the periodontal ligament which leads to the loss of attachment of the tooth.
Calculus and Plaque - are the precursor of dental disease. Plaque is a thin biofilm which cover the enamel of the teeth. Calculus forms when calcium salts in the salivary fluid crystallize on the surface of the teeth. It takes just 2-3 days for the plaque to become mineralized to form calculus. Calcium salts are more likely deposited on plaque in an alkaline environment. Our pets mouths are slightly alkaline as compared to human beings and that is why they are more prone to the calcium deposition.
2-3 DAYS IS OUR BEST CHANCE TO PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CALCULUS.
PREVENTION
At home prevention stops the accumulation of plaque and calculus. Daily brushing is the best way to disrupt plaque and calculus formation, but it can difficult to on a daily basis by most pet parents. New products are now available to assist in dental care, which include dental chews, dental treats, water additives and Dental Diet.
Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHV) recognizes products that achieve preset standards of effectiveness for plaque control in dogs and cats. You can go on to their website to find out the list of products that have the VOHC seal. Dental scaling and polishing is a procedure which removes plaque and calculus and allows the oral tissues to heal themselves. If is a preventive procedure which can best manage the causes of periodontal disease.
Puppies and Kittens
Dental care starts from birth and is ongoing during your pet’s life span. Primary problems with kittens and puppies is malocclusion and retained baby teeth.
Malocclusion - This leads to damage to the gums by pushing teeth against the gum tissue and causing pain. This leads to the pet not eating properly and hence losing body condition. Malocclusion can be corrected with orthodontics or extractions of primary teeth.
Retained baby teeth - By 8 weeks of age, most of the primary teeth should all have erupted, and by 12 weeks, all should be evident in the mouth. If the primary teeth fail to erupt, there may be insufficient room within the mandible and maxilla for normal development of the permanent teeth. The rule is that if the crown of the permanent teeth is visible above the gum line, the primary or baby teeth should be gone. If a primary tooth is still in place, it should be removed as soon as possible. Leaving a primary teeth in place until 6 months (spaying or neutering age) is not appropriate, because it forces the permanent tooth to erupt in an abnormal location.
