Dental disease is one of the most common diseases of dogs and cats.  Your pet’s breath should not be offensive.  Just like people, bacteria in the mouth combine with saliva to form plaque.  If not removed, the plaque hardens to tartar.  The bacteria associated with the plaque and tartar can then cause irritation to the gums leading to gingivitis.  Over time this can progress to serious periodontal disease where the bones around the teeth start to soften due to the inflammation and infection.  Eventually this can lead to tooth decay and bone loss.

The good news is that dental disease is preventable!  Daily brushing, rinsing, or use of dental treats can help remove the plaque buildup.  If there is already tartar buildup, a professional dental cleaning may be recommended.  Because our pets do not sit still for these procedures, they are performed under general anesthesia.  After the patient is anesthetized, the tartar is removed with an ultrasonic scaler.  Afterwards the teeth are polished smooth to try to slow tartar buildup.  Sometimes extremely diseased teeth are extracted because they can cause pain and additional problems if not removed.

Cats are unique in that they can also develop “resorptive” lesions on their teeth.  These are similar to, but not exactly the same as cavities that humans get.  For some reason the cells that aid in baby tooth loss get reactivated and attack adult teeth.  This can become very painful for the cat as the lesions extend beyond the enamel into the tooth root.  Pain can be noted by the owner as a reluctance to eat, drooling, dropping food, or pawing at the face.  Unfortunately, there is no treatment or prevention for these lesions and extraction of the tooth is recommended to alleviate the pain.

Remember… pets can live longer, healthier lives if oral health care is managed and maintained throughout their lives.  In fact, proper dental care may add as much as five years to your pet’s life!  Talk to your veterinarian about developing a dental care plan for your furry friend.