Dental Disease
Perhaps the most
preventable disease with serious long-term effects in pets
is dental disease. Yet many pets never have their teeth cleaned
at any time during their entire lives.
Why
is this vital service so often neglected?
- Cost?
- Ignorance on
the part of the owner?
- Fear of the
anesthesia that a pet must undergo to do this procedure
in a safe and proper manner?
Below
we discuss the following:
Why
is Dental Disease so common?
Prevention
Diagnosis
Treatment
Is Anesthesia Risky?
What are the other "Serious Health Consequences"
of Dental Disease?
How often should my pet have his teeth cleaned?
Why
do dogs and cats get dental disease so easily?
Try to imagine
what your mouth would be like if you never brushed your teeth,
but were given an animal cracker from time to time, to "clean
your teeth". At first, you would notice the bad taste
developing in your mouth, but in time you would have a major
infection going. This is what happens in the mouths of our
"best friends".
Plaque, a combination
of bacteria, saliva and food particles, forms in pets' mouths
every time they eat. Over time, the minerals, bacteria and
saliva form a hard substance known as dental calculus.
The bacteria continue
to invade the tissue around the teeth and gums, resulting
in erosion of the gum line and loosening of the tissues that
support the teeth.
No breed of dogs
is exempt from getting dental disease, but it seems small
breeds have more serious health consequences from dental neglect.
How
do we prevent and treat dental disease?
Prevention
Prevention is the
key to long-term oral hygiene. Brushing and rinsing the mouth
with the proper products is essential. In addition, Hill's
has pioneered a special food, TD, that we generally recommend
be used as a treat. It has a very unique property of not crumbling
when pets bite down on the kibble. It essentially cleans the
teeth via a squeegee action, leaving healthy teeth much more
free of plaque. It is not effective in pets that already have
dental disease. Next time you're in the clinic, please ask
for a demonstration of how to properly brush your pet's teeth.
Diagnosis
Dental disease
is easy to detect. In fact, many clients notice bad breath
early in their pet's life. During the annual physical exam,
one of our veterinarians will look in your pet's mouth, around
the cheeks and gums to determine if there is an infection
that needs to be treated. The first site that heavy tartar
and calculus accumulates is usually on the cheek-side of the
big, grinding teeth in the back of the mouth. There is a salivary
duct that empties right there, and food particles often get
lodged there as well.
Treatment
Proper treatment
of dental disease requires professional cleaning and polishing
of the teeth. This is not to be confused with the service
that groomers provide, where they essentially brush the teeth
(a waste of time and money if the underlying problem is not
being treated). Steps we take at Oasis Animal Clinic to perform
a proper dental cleaning are as follows:
Professional
examination of the mouth.
Pre-anesthetic
blood work to assess kidneys, liver and other parameters of
internal health. Yes, this procedure requires general anesthesia,
and we therefore do not cut corners in assuring a safe outcome.
Proper monitoring
throughout the procedure. We place an internal stethoscope
in the throat, adjacent to the heart to listen to the heart
rate, rhythm and strength. Other vital signs are monitored
as well.
The teeth are each
examined, ultrasonically scaled, evaluated for strength of
the root and connective system, and polished. The mouth is
rinsed with a safe disinfectant and every pet has a tube placed
in the trachea (airway) and is sealed to prevent the bacteria
and debris from entering the lungs. This procedure can take
from 30 to 60 minutes (cleaning alone) and requires dexterity,
patience and training.
Isn't
anesthesia risky?
Anesthesia is a
significant portion of the cost of dental cleaning. Until
we can train our patients to gargle, rinse and spit, we will
have no other alternative. In addition, most pets that require
dental care are older. The need for care and caution is great.
That's why we perform a physical exam and pre-anesthetic lab
work on all patients prior to performing a dental. We have
recently added a new anesthetic, Sevo-Flo, that makes it possible
to induce gas anesthesia (verse injectable) in a fraction
of the time previously required. In effect, the pet goes to
sleep almost like in the old movies where the handkerchief
was held to the nose and the person instantly passed out.
In spite of the
risks, we have a very good safety record with dental procedures.
And consider, avoiding a dental when it is medically necessary
creates a risk as well. See below...
What
are the Health complications of dental disease?
The same bacteria
that live in the mouth of dogs, also thrive on the heart values.
In fact, adult onset heart murmurs and cardiac disease often
have their origin in dental disease. Gums can be so infected
that the pet is literally showered with bacteria every time
he eats. Circulating bacteria are often filtered in the kidneys
and start infections there as well. In a very real sense,
untreated dental disease is a constant, serious and progressive
disease that debilitates pets.
How
often should my pet have his teeth cleaned?
When we diagnose
a dental problem that requires cleaning, we usually recommend
that the pet return with 6-12 months for ultrasonic scaling
and polishing. We will discuss follow-up care when we perform
the dental cleaning.
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