Dental care is an extremely important part of your pets health and at Beachside we are passionate and proactive about maintaining good oral hygiene for all of our patients. We have a dedicated dental suit with dental radiography performed on every animal undergoing a dental procedure.
Dental radiographs are essential for the diagnosis of periodontal disease as the crown (exposed/visible part) of the tooth is like the tip of the iceberg, with the root, root canal and bony dental attachments being deep within the bones of the jaw.
Dental disease is a very common problem in dogs and cats with 80% of dogs and 70% of cats showing signs of periodontal disease by the age of 3years old. If left untreated, dental issues can be much more serious than just bad breath or lost teeth, but can have serious adverse effects on the liver, kidneys and heart.
Just like humans, dogs and cats have two sets of teeth during their lifetime, with the first teeth known as deciduous teeth. The full set of adult teeth that replace these first, ‘baby’ teeth, will not be fully erupted until around 6 months of age. It is important to examine the deciduous teeth to determine the state of dental occlusion, so that further problems can be avoided in adult life.
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is the key factor in the prevention of dental disease. When proper oral care is not undertaken, a thin film of bacteria, known as plaque, builds up on the surface of the teeth. Over time the plaque becomes mineralised, producing calculus or tartar, which has a rough surface and attracts more bacteria. This accumulation of tartar irritates the gums, causing them to become red and inflamed, resulting in a condition known as gingivitis, which can be very painful for your pet. If gingivitis is left to progress, it increases the risk of a pocket formation between the gum and the tooth. Food debris becomes trapped in this pocket, leading to breakdown of the tooth attachments as well as degradation of the bony socket, which is known as periodontal disease. As the disease process continues, the gums will recede, the bone degrade and an infection will occur, leading to loose teeth and a very painful mouth.
How does a pet owner know if dental care is needed?
Examination of the teeth is key, and you need to know what to look for. Not all of our pets understand why this examination needs to be done, especially if they have not been accustomed to it. This is why we recommend and encourage owners to introduce their pets to regular oral checks from a very early age. As long as it is safe to do so, we will perform a full dental exam at every vaccination or consultation appointment to ensure dental hygiene and health is maintained throughout your pets lifetime.
Signs of dental disease include:
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Red gums (gingivitis)
- Bleeding from around the teeth
- Loose, broken or discoloured teeth
- A change in chewing or eating habits
- Pawing at the mouth is a sign of pain and perhaps wobbly teeth
- Salivating excessively due to pain or discomfort
- Reluctance to eat. Although this occurs rarely, and many dogs and cats will continue to eat even with severe dental disease.
- In severe cases, bacteria can spread into the bloodstream and to the major organs such as the liver, heart and kidneys.
Dental disease is easy to ignore because it is a problem that comes on gradually and as a result, without regular examinations, can easily be missed or difficult to notice. Our pets learn to tolerate dental disease, but that doesn’t mean it does not cause discomfort and in some cases much pain and serious infection. It is often only when the disease is treated, that our pets appear happier and livelier, that we realise how much the dental disease was affecting them.
