Professional oral hygiene visits should be started early in a pet's life before advanced
dental disease occurs.
However, removing the debris from around the teeth and gums is not enough, as
dental disease occurs just below the gum line.
It is important to understand the anatomy and how
dental disease occurs so that you can better communicate to the pet owner about the serious nature of this disease.
So how does
dental disease occur in pets?
Not exact matches
Veterinarians recommend a complete oral examination of your bunny's teeth because
dental disease can
occur at other parts other than the front teeth.
Kidney failure, heart
disease, arthritis,
dental disease, cancer and cognitive dysfunction can
occur during the normal aging process.
This
occurs because of poorly formed valves, old age or valvular infections such as those caused by
dental disease.
The risk of anesthesia is negligible compared to the significant risk of infection and internal organ damage that
occurs with untreated
dental disease.
Aside from periodontal
disease, the most common causes of
dental problems
occur because of trauma to a tooth.
Periodontal
disease is the most common clinical condition
occurring in adult dogs and cats, and is entirely preventable with regular oral health maintenance at home, twice a year check - ups and
dental cleanings at your Veterinarian's office.
Usually these can be avoided with routine preventive check - ups, which can identify other problems, such as hidden kidney or thyroid
disease or
dental disease before any signs
occur.
Dental changes may be very subtle at first, but if the situation is not quickly corrected, advanced
dental disease can
occur.
The most common
dental disease in cats, periodontal
disease occurs when tartar buildup pushes food debris and bacteria into the gum tissue, causing inflammation.
Crown height reduction can often be curative in the beginning stages of
dental disease when accompanied by diet correction and other preventive measures.1 — 3 However, in cases of moderate to severe
dental disease, crown height reduction procedures will need to be performed repeatedly.1 - 3 Overgrown incisors or cheek teeth should be trimmed using a
dental bur or trimming forceps (FIGURE 6A) designed specifically for crown reduction.1 - 3 Nail trimmers, rongeurs, and other manual cutting tools should never be used to perform crown height reduction.2, 3 Root damage, tooth fractures or splinters, and abnormal regrowth are likely to
occur when using improper equipment.2, 3 Crown reduction performed without sedation or anesthesia is difficult and often done blindly, resulting in missed sharp points or spurs and injury to the gums, cheeks, or tongue.1 - 3 Rabbits with moderate to severe
dental disease should be anesthetized, allowing crown reduction and reshaping to be performed with a low - speed
dental bur while protecting soft tissues with bur guards and
dental spatulas.1 — 3 (FIGURE 6B)
The next stage is periodontal
disease and this
occurs when more time goes by with no
dental cleaning.
Dental disease can
occur in pets of all ages, but if your pet is 3 years or older, he / she likely has tartar and plaque build - up on the teeth and probably needs a
dental cleaning.
Awareness of how teeth and
dental disease develop may help owners to prevent to problems from
occurring and possibly extend the lifespan of their pets.
Dental exams are done to detect infections in the mouth and
dental disease, which can
occur by the time your pet reaches the age of seven years old.
There are several types of
dental disease that
occur in cats.
Conducting a thorough examination of the teeth and oral cavity to detect any
dental disease and gingival pockets that may be hidden by the tartar, as well as any masses or abnormalities that may be
occurring in your cat's mouth or throat.
Gastrointestinal
disease occurs commonly in ferrets - from
dental disease, through gastrointestinal foreign bodies to persistent diarrhea.
So much of
dental disease, such as periodontal
disease, tooth root abscesses, jaw fractures, tumors, etc.,
occurs below the gumline, that
dental radiography is an absolute necessity to practice veterinary dentistry.
Even though the teeth will eventually need professional cleaning again in the future (most people get their teeth cleaned several times per year), proper brushing will decrease the amount of
dental disease that
occurs and the number of times we will have to clean your pet's teeth over its lifetime.
NEVER attempt to remove all calcium sources from a rabbit's diet or problems with abnormally low calcium blood levels, such as bone,
dental and muscle
disease can
occur.
Periodontal
disease occurs as bacteria accumulate on the teeth (
dental plaque) and eventually start to mineralize (
dental calculus).
But what can a veterinarian, or a pet owner, do to prevent
dental disease in young animals before it
occurs, as well as maintain a pet's good oral health after
dental x-rays and an anesthetic cleaning, and when the pet in question is not a good candidate for general anesthesia?
«Although
dental disease can
occur rapidly at any age, risk factors for developing periodontal
disease in dogs can include increasing age, small breed size and neutering.