Overview of Dental Health
Dental Care
We have all been well educated from the time we were children about dental health. Twice daily brushing and semiannual cleanings are normal for all of us. If we become lax we develop tartar accumulation, gingivitis, periodontal disease or cavities.
What about our pets? The reality is that our dogs and cats need dental care too. By the time most dogs and cats reach the age of two years dental plaque (that stuff we try to brush off our teeth every day) has begun to mineralize and adhere to their teeth as tartar. At the same time plaque and tartar are building up under the gum line. This plaque contains millions (literally) of bacteria, which if left in place, will infect the gums causing gingivitis. Unchecked infection under the gumline will cause an incurable disease called periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a painful, progressive loss of infected bone, which with dedicated professional care can be controlled but never cured. The good news is that periodontal disease is almost always preventable if regular dental care is started early enough in life.
Home Dental Care
If we force our animals (i.e. call in several neighbors to sit on the dog while we scrub the teeth) we will be unsuccessful. On the other hand slow, progressive training usually results in cooperation. Start for a couple of weeks with allowing your pet to lick a little pet toothpaste (which come in a variety of tasty flavors) from your finger. Don’t use human toothpaste; its fluoride can cause toxicity if swallowed daily. After your pet is used to the taste, start wiping a little toothpaste on a tooth or two for a few days, and then progressively more teeth. When a pet is accepting the finger “brushing” you can then advance to a soft finger brush, and rub all outer surfaces of the teeth daily. When a dog is accepting the finger brush then, and only then, can you start using a dog toothbrush or a child’s soft toothbrush. Slow, happy training is the key to success. Daily brushing of the teeth reduces plaque formation, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. This saves your pet from pain and disease development and decreases the costs of future dental care.
Anesthesia / Monitoring
Dental Cleanings
Removing the plaque is really the important part of the cleaning since plaque and tartar contain millions of bacteria. If not removed from under the gum line, bacteria will cause infection of the gums or gingivitis that can progress to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a painful condition that ultimately leads to tooth loss. Regular, thorough cleanings are a big part of preventing gingivitis and periodontal disease.
A dental cleaning is done for our pets exactly the same way it isdone for us. The only exception is that our animal friends mustbe placed under general anesthesia. No awake dog or cat wouldlet us do a thorough cleaning. First the dental tartar, also known as calculus, is removed from the tooth surface. This is done by a combination of hand scaling and the use of an ultrasonic scaler, used to literally vibrate tartar off of the teeth. Next, plaque and tartar must be removed from beneath the gum tissue. After all the teeth are cleaned the enamel surface is polished and smoothedwith a prophy-paste that helps to slow down future plaque build up.
Dental procedures such as teeth cleaning, sealants, and extractions are done exactly the same way for dogs and cats as for humans. The only big difference is that animals must be anesthetized to achieve their needed cooperation. When a dog or cat comes to the hospital a brief exam is done and a sedative is administered. Once sleepy enough, an endotracheal tube is placed in the airway to allow the administration of gas anesthesia and to protect the lungs from aspiration (inhaling of dental tartar and fluid from the dental cleaning — this doesn’t happen in awake animals/people who can swallow normally). An intravenous catheter is placed for fluid administration, which helps to support normal blood pressure. Anesthetic monitoring is critically important, every animal is monitored continuously and great care is taken to ensure anesthetic safety and to minimize anesthetic side effects.
Brushing It is estimated that 60% of all dogs and cats will have early dental disease by the time they are two years of age and 85% are affected by three years of age. Unless treated early, gingivitis and periodontal disease will progress to the point of tooth loss, and a lot of pain along the way. Periodontal disease is virtually 100% preventable if regular dental cleanings are done by a veterinarian and owners care for their pet’s teeth at home with the same commitment as for their own teeth. Young dogs and cats can often be trained to accept tooth brushing at home if done early and properly.
