{"id":1707,"date":"2013-01-29T19:58:49","date_gmt":"2013-01-29T19:58:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.animalhealthfoundation.net\/blog\/?p=1707"},"modified":"2013-01-29T20:01:01","modified_gmt":"2013-01-29T20:01:01","slug":"the-stages-of-dental-disease-from-mild-to-irreversible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.animalhealthfoundation.org\/blog\/2013\/01\/the-stages-of-dental-disease-from-mild-to-irreversible\/","title":{"rendered":"The stages of dental disease: From mild to irreversible"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pet dental disease progresses through four stages from mild disease to severe gum disease that may be irreversible, writes veterinarian Karen Dye. Preventing dental disease is the best option for maintaining oral health, notes Dr. Dye. Thorough dental cleanings under general anesthesia are necessary to fully evaluate all oral structures, clean the teeth above and below the gum line, and apply antibiotics and extract teeth if needed in advanced cases.<\/em><\/strong> The Culpeper Star-Exponent (Va.)<\/a><\/p>\n

Most odors from a dog\u2019s mouth come from periodontal disease and bacteria in the mouth.\u00a0 Plaque and tartar build up along with inflammation cause periodontal disease (the periodontium includes the bone, connective tissue, and gingiva which surrounds and supports a tooth).<\/p>\n

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Please have your pet examined by your veterinarian to determine the cause of bad breath, but often it is some form of dental disease.\u00a0 Since most dogs don\u2019t get their teeth brushed daily, plaque and tartar accumulate quickly.\u00a0 Unhealthy gums (gingivitis) can also result from lack of brushing.\u00a0 Once the gums are inflamed, it is often appropriate to perform a dental prophylactic cleaning under anesthesia.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

There are several stages of periodontal disease, from Stage 1 (the most mild) to Stage 4 (the most severe).\u00a0 Dental disease affects more than just the teeth and gums.\u00a0 Over time, bacteria accumulate in the mouth along the gum-line, where they enter the bloodstream.<\/p>\n

Once enough bacteria are present in the bloodstream they begin to cause systemic damage, affecting the liver, kidneys and heart.<\/p>\n

Bacteria in the bloodstream can also cause sepsis (generalized invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms).\u00a0 Obviously, an additional concern is tooth loss and pain associated with dental disease.\u00a0 These conditions can take years off your pet\u2019s life.\u00a0 Most studies show that 80% or more of all adult dogs have periodontal disease and at least 70% of all cats have some form of dental disease.<\/p>\n

Dental disease is easily treated if done at the appropriate time.<\/p>\n

A dental prophylaxis performed at periodontal disease stage 1 or 2 can help ensure that your pet will not suffer any of the aforementioned conditions.\u00a0 Once your pet has reached periodontal disease stage 3 or 4, irreversible damage may have already occurred and extracting teeth may be the only option to maintain your pet\u2019s oral health.<\/p>\n

Dental extractions are uncomfortable for the patient and can be financially costly for their owners.<\/p>\n

Therefore, detecting periodontal disease early and treating early with a prophylactic cleaning are important.Q: What happens during a dental cleaning?<\/p>\n

A: At Clevenger\u2019s Corner Veterinary Care, we recommend pre-anesthetic blood work to detect any underlying disease that may affect our anesthetic protocol. Your pet will be under full anesthesia, while being monitored by a trained technician as well as monitored by pulse oximetry machines and Doppler blood pressure.\u00a0 Core body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate are also monitored.<\/p>\n

Our patients all receive IV fluid support during the dental prophylaxis. The oral cavity will be examined closely for any unusual discolorations or masses. The teeth and gums will be evaluated to determine the degree of dental disease.\u00a0 The teeth will be checked for fractures, pulp exposure, irreversible gum recession, cavities and abnormal wear.\u00a0 The tartar will be removed using an ultrasonic scaler as well as hand scaling instruments by a licensed veterinary technician.<\/p>\n

Using special curettes, the plaque, tartar and bacteria will be removed from the tooth surfaces as well as under the gum line.<\/p>\n

At this stage of the procedure, the doctor will determine if the patient would benefit from additional therapy such as extractions or special antibiotics applied directly under the gum line.<\/p>\n

Finally, the teeth will be polished and fluoride applied to help prevent re-accumulation of tartar and bacteria.<\/p>\n

If necessary, the patient will go home with pain medication and\/or antibiotics.<\/p>\n

After a dental prophylaxis, it is important to follow up with home care. There are several options including brushing (the best), oral rinses or water additives, and special dental chews.<\/p>\n

It is also quite possible that your pet may need an additional dental prophylaxis in the future.<\/p>\n

Hopefully with diligent home care we can increase the time between professional cleanings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pet dental disease progresses through four stages from mild disease to severe gum disease that may be irreversible, writes veterinarian Karen Dye. Preventing dental disease is the best option for maintaining oral health, notes Dr. Dye. Thorough dental cleanings under general anesthesia are necessary to fully evaluate all oral structures, clean the teeth above and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,12,29,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cats","category-dogs","category-healthy-pets","category-medical-issues"],"yoast_head":"\nThe stages of dental disease: From mild to irreversible | The Animal Health Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.animalhealthfoundation.org\/blog\/2013\/01\/the-stages-of-dental-disease-from-mild-to-irreversible\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The stages of dental disease: From mild to irreversible | The Animal Health Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Pet dental disease progresses through four stages from mild disease to severe gum disease that may be irreversible, writes veterinarian Karen Dye. 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