Greencross Vets 1. Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is the most common dental problem in dogs and cats. This condition is associated with inflammation and destruction of the tissues that surround and support the teeth in the mouth. It is commonly triggered by bacterial plaque accumulating on the teeth.
In the earliest stage of this disease the inflammation may only affect the gingiva and is called gingivitis. If caught early and treated at this stage gingivitis is reversible by removal of the bacteria above and below the gingival margins. In dogs and cats this requires cleaning their teeth under anaesthesia. It is possible to prevent gingivitis from developing through consistent preventative oral hygiene habits such as daily tooth brushing.
If periodontal disease progresses more significant and irreversible damage occurs. This includes gum recession, breakdown of the tissues (including bone) that stabilise the teeth in the mouth and infections in the root of the teeth and bones of the jaw. Symptoms may include loose/mobile teeth, halitosis (bad breath), nasal discharge, facial swelling, oral pain, difficulty eating, excessive salivation and even fractures of the jaw. There may also be increased risk of damage to other organs such as the heart or kidneys secondary to severe dental disease. If the disease progresses too far and the teeth are severely damaged, they may fall out or need to be extracted.
It’s important to realize that many pets may show very few symptoms of periodontal disease, even if the disease is severe, so a dental examination with your veterinarian is important.
2. Tooth fractures
Broken or chipped teeth are common in pets and often occur secondary to some sort of trauma, such as chewing on hard objects (e.g. rocks, antlers, hooves, bones). A broken tooth is problematic as the protective outer enamel layer is damaged, potentially exposing the sensitive internal tissues including the pulp (which is where the nerves and blood supply of the tooth reside). This leads to significant oral pain and acts as an entry point where bacteria can get into the normally protected parts of the tooth, resulting in infection.
Fractured teeth can sometimes be treated with procedures like a root canal, however in other cases the damaged tooth may need to be extracted. Avoiding letting your pet chew on hard objects can reduce the risk of tooth fractures. A good rule of thumb is that you should be able to put an indent in the surface of the object with your fingernail and if this is not possible it is probably too hard for your pet to be chewing!
3. Malocclusions
A malocclusion refers to abnormal teeth alignment. This may cause problems due to inappropriate tooth to tooth or tooth to tissue contact in the mouth, resulting in inflammation, infection or damage to the teeth or gums, abnormal tooth wear, oral pain or even problems closing the mouth. It is possible for some malocclusions to cause minimal problems depending on the animal.
Skeletal abnormalities are a common reason for malocclusions due to discrepancies in the length of the bones of the skull. This is often described as an ‘underbite’ or ‘overbite’. Other conditions like a bottom jaw that is too narrow, can also lead to malocclusions.
There is a strong genetic link to the development of the jaw bones and the position of the teeth, and therefore malocclusions are very common in certain ‘brachycephalic’ breeds such as Boxers, French Bulldogs, Pugs and Shih-Tzus. Treatment will depend on the severity of the malocclusion and the type of problem that it is causing.
4. Retained Deciduous Teeth
Like humans, dogs and cats have two sets of teeth throughout their lives: deciduous (baby) teeth and adult (permanent) teeth.
It’s normal for puppies and kittens to lose their baby teeth as they grow. This generally occurs by the time they are around six months of age.
In some animals the deciduous teeth do not fall out and this can lead to problems with the adult teeth, including incorrect positioning leading to malocclusions and damage to the tooth, as well as crowding of the deciduous and adult teeth which creates an ideal environment for the accumulation of debris and bacteria and increases the likelihood of periodontal disease.
This problem can be treated by extracting the retained deciduous tooth to provide the appropriate space for the adult teeth. You can monitor this at home while your pet is teething! If you notice that your pet has an adult tooth developing and there is still a baby tooth present in the same location, you should arrange a check up with a veterinarian.
5. Feline Tooth Resorption
Tooth resorption is a common condition which may affect as many as two in every three cats. This condition is called by lots of different names including feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions, neck lesions, cervical lesions and feline caries.
The cause of this condition has not been definitively established and there is no known way to prevent it. It occurs when the body starts spontaneously attacking and breaking down the teeth.
Although cats are very adept at masking signs of pain, it is an extremely painful condition. Potential symptoms that could indicate there is a problem include a change in food preference (such as preferring soft foods or swallowing without chewing), excessive salivation/drooling, bloody saliva, chattering the teeth or pawing at the mouth.
Treatment typically involves either complete extraction of the affected tooth or amputation of the top part of the tooth called the crown. Dental radiographs are required to determine the correct treatment.
