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And look all the way to the back teeth. See brown teeth or reddened gums? Or maybe a bad smell? There shouldn't be. Pets' teeth should be clean and white and the gums should be nice and pink and even. If not, there's a problem. And it's not just an esthetic problem; it's a health problem.
Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets. An astounding 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS). Oral disease begins with a build up of bacteria in the pet's mouth. Combine that with saliva and food debris and plaque develops. Plaque is the most important substrate in the development of periodontal disease. The inflammation and destruction and pain that accompanies periodontal disease results from the direct action of bacteria and their by-products on periodontal tissues as well as the indirect activation of the pet's immune response. Left untreated, periodontal disease causes red, swollen and tender gums, receding gums, bleeding, pain and bad breath. If left untreated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss.
The inflammation and infection associated with periodontal disease may damage other organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys, or lead to other serious health problems.
These teeth need to be closely examined and professionally cleaned by a licensed veterinarian or a supervised and trained veterinary technician.
The disease process is under the gums; this is where the bacteria are causing the inflammation that results in periodontitis and pain. Human patients are cooperative, so dental scaling of human teeth performed by a professional hygienist or dentist can be completed successfully without anesthesia. However, access to the subgingival area of every tooth is impossible in an unanesthetized canine or feline patient. Removal of dental tartar only on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet's health, and provides a false sense of accomplishment. The effect is purely cosmetic. Pets need to be anesthetized.
Anesthesia allows us to examine all surfaces of all teeth in a safe and thorough manner. All subgingival areas, where the real problems are, can be properly evaluated using a periodontal probe and then thoroughly cleaned using ultrasonic scalers and sharp metal hand instruments. There can be significant dental or periodontal disease that can only be discovered with examination under anesthesia. After all the plaque and tartar are removed, the teeth get a final polish to help eliminate any grooves on the teeth that could harbour future bacteria, in effect slowing down the recurrence of periodontitis. We may discuss particular diets that can help as well.
Pet owners should look for warning signs of oral disease. This include the following:
1. Brown or yellow staining of the teeth
2. Bad breath
3. A change in eating or chewing habits
4. Pawing at the mouth
5. Depression
6. Weight loss
7. Drooling
If you suspect your dog or cat has a potential oral problem, please make an appointment to visit us. Our veterinary team is fully trained and continue to remain current in the field of pet dentistry.
We're committed to your pet's oral health, so remember, just lift the lip!
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