Dental Disease Update: What’s New

As you may already be aware, dental disease in our pets is a major issue.

Have you ever noticed your pet having any or all of the following?

• Bad breath (Halitosis).
• Red or swollen gums (Gingivitis).
• Soft, pus-like material on the side of the tooth surface (Plaque).
• A brown, hard, crust-like material on the side of the tooth surface (Calculi/Tartar).
• Root exposure (which is part of the progression of Periodontitis).
• Loose or missing teeth.
• Discomfort when the mouth, gums, or teeth are touched.
• Difficulty chewing.
• Showing interest in food, but not wanting to eat.  Or, no longer eating dry (kibble) food, and preferring the softer canned foods.
• Drooling.

If you have noticed any of these symptoms, your pet should be examined.

If your pet’s dental disease is significant, a dentistry procedure is the first recommendation.  A complete dental cleaning is done under anesthesia.  The procedure involves removing deposits of plaque, calculus, and debris from the teeth and under the gum’s (gingival) surface.

Also, there are numerous prophylactic (supportive) treatments which can help preserve your pet’s dental health.  The goal of prophylaxis is to help slow (delay) the ongoing progression of dental disease.

The newest option is only for dogs.  It is a vaccine (Porphyromonas vaccine) which enhances your pet’s immune response to the Porphyromonas bacteria in the mouth.  Recent research has shown that this family of bacteria is the most common type to colonize and proliferate in plaque, calculus, and periodontal pockets.  They cause a more rapid progression of periodontitis, thereby causing a continuous breakdown of the gingiva, the periodontal ligament, and the alveolar bone that hold teeth in place.  If left untreated, affected teeth may eventually be lost.  Therefore, the goal of the vaccine is to slow the progression of dental disease by stimulating your dog’s immune system to resist the bacteria which cause the most dental disease.

Other useful preventative options which can be utilized concurrently to maintain your pet’s dental health include:

OraVet, which is a once-a-week at-home applied protective barrier product that has the ability to slow down bacterial attachment to your pet’s teeth, and thereby slow the formation of plaque and tartar.

Toothbrushes and Toothpaste formulated for your pet.

Toothpaste-enhanced special treats to chew on.

Hill’s (the Science Diet company) specially formulated T/D diet (Tartar Diet).

If you have questions pertaining to these instructions or to any aspect of your pet’s health care, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK US.