Keeping pets healthy with regular teeth brushing is probably the most important measure to reduce the
risk of oral disease.
Did you know that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some
kind of oral disease by the age of 3?
Since over 60
percent of oral disease is hidden and exists below the gum line, the first part of the process involves dental x-rays.
This
stage of oral disease is associated with significant pain and spread of bacteria throughout the body.
Walk away at the end of the week with confidence and skills to be able to recognize and treat
most of the oral disease you will encounter in your practice.
About 80 % of dogs and 70 % of cats will experience some
form of oral disease by the time they reach the age of three.
However, if your dog's bad breath continues, you may also want to consult your veterinarian, as this could be a
symptom of an oral disease.
Common indicators
of oral disease in dogs include bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face or mouth and depression.
According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs
of oral disease with periodontal disease — the most common problem in dogs, especially the smaller breeds.
Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital's Advanced Dentistry team can assess, diagnose, treat, and then customize a homecare program to help prevent further
development of oral disease.
Increased drooling — Excessive salivation is a key
indicator of oral disease, but can also indicate other health problems such as heatstroke, contact with poisonous plants, anxiety, or upper respiratory infection.
Management of oral diseases, including masticatory myositis, stomatitis, oral manifestations of autoimmune diseases, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
During the prophylactic dental cleaning («prophy»), the teeth are scaled to remove tartar, polished to remove plaque and treated with fluoride to help in the
resistance of oral disease.
Bacteria in the mouth are also the
cause of oral disease and diseases in other organs like the heart, liver and kidneys.
We at La Costa Animal Hospital have extensive knowledge and experience in treating any dental problems that are present, as well as preventing future
occurrences of oral disease.
Just like human dentists, veterinary dentists diagnose and treat a wide
range of oral diseases and conditions, perform surgical tooth extractions, repair fractures, perform reconstructive surgery, and provide treatment for oral trauma.
When approaching the
subject of oral disease in animals, there are a few concepts and terms that are helpful to understand...
Good oral hygiene is key to keeping a happy dog mouth and to ward off any potential
return of an oral disease after it has been treated.
Unfortunately, there are often no visible signs
of oral disease until there is so much damage beneath the gumline that the pet often has pain, bone loss and tooth loss.
Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs
of oral diseases such as gingivitis, and provide other preventive dental care.
The mission of the Oral Health Promotion is to contribute to the
reduction of oral disease with a focus on delivering Oral Health programs to the community.
The model showed that for children at high
risk of oral disease, supervised brushing and fluoride varnish schemes are cost - effective options.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some
kind of oral disease by the age of three.