85% of pets will have some form of periodontal disease by the time they are 3-4 years of age. There is not much difference between our own teeth and our pet’s teeth – think if you didn’t brush your teeth for 3-4 years - you would have a lot of tartar, loose teeth, and very bad breath!
There are 4 stages of periodontal disease that we see in dogs and cats. Stage 1 is gingivitis – the gum tissue around the teeth is inflamed and swollen. Some plaque and tartar is present on the tooth surface. This stage is definitely reversible with treatment. Stage 2 is early periodontitis – the gum is very inflamed, parts of the tissue and bone are starting to be destroyed, and there is probably an odor from the mouth. This stage can be reversed with professional cleaning and at-home care. Stage 3 is moderate periodontitis – continuing infection destroys more tissue and bone around the teeth, the gums bleed easily, and the mouth starts to become painful. This stage may become irreversible without treatment. Stage 4 is advanced periodontitis – extensive infection is destroying the attachment of gum and bone, teeth are loose, and infection may be spreading into the bloodstream.
How do you know if your pet has periodontal disease?
Bad breath
Red or swollen gums
Tartar (yellow-brown crust near the gum line)
Loose or missing teeth
Discomfort with chewing or when mouth is touched
What can you do?
First, have an exam performed by your veterinarian to determine if professional cleaning is needed or if at-home treatment will suffice. If a professional cleaning is recommended, your pet will have to undergo anesthesia. During a cleaning, visible tartar is removed via hand and electronic scalers, periodontal pockets are measured, the roots are planed (tartar is scraped from below the gum line), the outer enamel of the tooth is polished, the mouth is disinfected, and a sealant is applied to the teeth. Dental radiographs are recommended because they give us a view of the part of the tooth that is below the gum line (about 2/3 of the tooth!). We can see fractures of the root or jawbone, abscesses, tumors, resorptive disease, retained roots, bone loss, and more. They are also useful after extracting teeth to make sure the entire root has been removed. Dental radiographs should be done no matter the age of the pet, but especially if severe disease is present. If extractions are necessary, your pet should be back to normal in a few days, and should still be able to eat and play like normal (unless extensive extractions occur).
At-home dental care is recommended at all stages of your pet’s life. It is best to start when the pet is young to get them used to the process, and help delay the onset of periodontal disease. After a professional cleaning has been performed, at-home care is essential to maintain the results. The best at-home care consists of proper brushing of the teeth with approved animal toothpaste and a toothbrush or fingerbrush. Brush the outer surface of the teeth at least 3 times a week, daily if possible. If pets do not tolerate this, there are dental wipes, rinses, and pads available – these help wipe the plaque off the tooth surface. Dental treats are also helpful – Science diet t/d food, Greenies, CET chews, and Dentabones are some great products. These alone can help reduce plaque by up to 65%.
Lastly, there is a new vaccine approved for dogs that helps reduce bone destruction. The Porphyromonas Bacterin targets certain bacteria responsible for the tissue damage in advanced periodontitis. It will not prevent tartar from forming, but it will help prevent tooth loss. It can be started at anytime – when your dog is young, or after periodontal disease is present. It should be used as part of a package that includes professional cleaning and at-home care.
If you have any questions about your pet’s teeth, call and schedule an appointment with our veterinarians @ 281-485-2496.
-Dr. Tricia Trunek, DVM
