The basic steps for identifying painful problems in a pets mouth start with a physical exam and history. 

*An initial oral exam after anesthetic induction is to look for any obvious dental problems (fractured or loose teeth), discolored teeth, oral tumors and anything else out of the ordinary. 

*Ultrasonic scaling and hand instrumentation to get into the subgingival areas of the mouth,

*Polishing, which removes irregularities created by scaling and slows the accumulation of future plaque and calculus

*Thorough rinsing under the gumline to remove infectious debris and foreign material

*Fluoride treatment to strengthen enamel and help desensitize exposed root surfaces and exposed dentin

*Complete charting of the mouth.  (this helps keep track of areas requiring radiographs and further treatment.

*Radiographs are an absolute requirement for quality dental care. 

*Follow-up exam and home care are important steps in keeping your pets teeth and mouth healthy.  It is essential that you follow your veterinarians recommendations.

Teeth are anchored in periodontal tissues consisting of gingiva (gums), ligaments, cementum, and supporting bone. More than 85% of dogs and cats older than 4 years have periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease starts with the formation of plaque, a transparent adhesive fluid composed of bacteria. Plaque starts forming within eight hours after a thorough dental cleaning. When plaque is not removed, mineral salts in the saliva precipitate forming hard calculus. Calculus is irritating to gingival tissue. By-products of the bacteria "eat away" the tooth's support structures eventually causing pain and periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease can be graded from stages one to four. The first two stages are classified as gingivitis the last two as periodontitis. In stage one, plaque extends to the gum line causing inflammation of the gingiva. Stage two gingivitis, is marked by inflammation and swelling. Gingivitis can usually be reversed by thorough teeth cleaning by a veterinarian while the dog or cat is anesthetized. If treated early, the gums can return to normal appearance and function. If untreated, periodontitis can result. Stage three periodontal disease occurs when there is bone loss in addition to gingival inflammation and infection. In stage four periodontal disease, there is a progression of the bone loss usually creating tooth mobility.

The owner of a dog or cat with periodontal disease needs to be committed to save their animal's teeth. This commitment includes daily brushing to remove plaque, which begins to build within eight hours after the previous brushing. Frequent veterinary dental re-examinations are required, and expense should be considered. The patient must also be a willing partner. If a dog or cat will not allow home care the best dental surgeon and most caring owner will not make a difference. Unless there is strong owner commitment and patient compliance, it is wiser to extract a tooth rather than letting the pet suffer.

Choosing appropriate teeth to operate upon is equally important. Every dental procedure by a veterinarian should include probing and charting.

 X-rays supply important information when deciding which tooth will benefit from surgery. X-rays help evaluate supportive bone around the teeth.    X-rays are also examined for other pathology that should be treated prior to and may affect the outcome of periodontal care.

Dr. Jan Bellows

The American Veterinary Dental Society recommends a full dental cleaning every six months for your pet, just the same as your dentist recommends for you. Still, imagine what that cleaning procedure would be like for you if you did not brush your teeth at all between dental visits.

Dental home care is the single most important aspect of regular dental care.

The Toothbrush Kit
Just as with your own teeth, nothing beats brushing. The fibers of the tooth brush are able to reach between teeth and under gums to pick out tiny deposits of food. A toothbrush acts as a tiny scrub brush for the closest possible cleaning.

Notice the shape of the canine and feline brushes and how they conform to a pet's mouth. You can use a human toothbrush but you will probably find it difficult to manipulate in the pet's mouth.

Finger brushes are available and are smaller for puppies and kittens.

Toothpaste
DO NOT USE A HUMAN TOOTHPASTE ON YOUR PET. Toothpaste for people contains sudsing agents which are not expected to be swallowed. These will upset your pet's stomach as your pet is not able to rinse out his or her mouth.

Pet toothpaste comes in a variety of flavors: mint (which people tend to prefer as a scent but animals do not prefer as a flavor), chicken, liver, and malt (generally preferred as a flavor by pets).

Dental Spray
Some pets will not allow anyone to actually touch their teeth. For these pets there is dental spray which can be sprayed into the mouth as an anti-plaque wash. As noted above, the spray can be applied to a tissue or cloth and rubbed on the teeth as well.

Dental Treats
Some cats will not allow anyone to reach into their mouths for any reason and will not tolerate brushing, spraying, rinsing or any other home care. For these animals dental treats represent an excellent method of dental home care.  We recommend a treat daily for routine home care if you are unable to brush your cats teeth.

In the dog, research has shown that daily rawhide chewing can be as beneficial as brushing. We carry special compressed C.E.T. chews.

T/D DIET

Realizing the difficulties involved in dental home care, Hills has created a diet designed to break calculus off of teeth. If you would like the benefits of performing dental home care without actually having to schedule time, this may be a viable option for you.

DO'S AND DON'TS OF DENTAL HOME CARE

• DON'T USE A HUMAN TOOTHPASTE ON YOUR PET
   
• DO USE A TOOTHBRUSH WITHOUT ANY PASTE AT FIRST SO THAT YOUR PET MAY GET USED TO THE OBJECT IN THE MOUTH BEFORE HAVING TO CONTEND WITH FLAVOR
   
• DON'T ATTEMPT TO CLEAN THE INNER SURFACE OF YOUR PET'S TEETH. NATURAL SALIVA CLEANS THIS SURFACE ON ITS OWN
   
• DO TRY TO PERFORM DENTAL HOME CARE AT LEAST ONCE DAILY
   
• DON'T PERFORM DENTAL HOME CARE DURING THE FIRST WEEK AFTER A FULL DENTISTRY IN THE HOSPITAL AS YOUR PET'S GUMS MAY BE TENDER
    
• DON'T CONSIDER DENTAL HOME CARE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FULL DENTAL CLEANING IF YOUR PET HAS MORE ADVANCED DENTAL DISEASE.

Special "starter" dental kits for puppies and kittens are available as well. These will help you accommodate your young pet to dental care right from the start.

How to brush your cat's teeth
(courtesy of C.E.T. Dental Care)

Tooth brushing doesn't happen overnight. It requires training, just like any other behavior.

First, select a convenient time when you and your cat are both relaxed. For the first few days, simply hold your cat as you normally do when petting him/her. Gently stroke the outside of your pet’s cheeks with your finger for a minute or two.

After a few days, place a small amount of C.E.T. Toothpaste on your finger and let your pet sample the flavor. Pets love the flavors of C.E.T. Toothpastes and soon will consider it a treat.

Next, introduce your pet to a C.E.T. Toothbrush or Fingerbrush. Place a small amount of C.E.T. Toothpaste on the brush and gently brush one tooth with a slow circular motion.

Gradually increase the number of teeth brushed until you’ve built up to 30 seconds of brushing per side.

It is important to reward your cat with a healthy treat and plenty of praise after every step of this process.

As with any other routine, it’s best to begin a dental care program when pets are young.

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Quick Bites
On Pet Dental Care

DOGS

Puppies develop 28 temporary teeth at two to three weeks of age. Their 42 permanent teeth emerge at about four months.

Studies show that, by age 3, 80 % of dogs exhibit signs of gum disease.

Small dog breeds are more likely than large breeds to develop periodontal disease. Canine dentistry experts believe this is because the teeth of small dogs often are too large for their mouths, forcing the teeth closer together.

CATS

Kittens have about 26 temporary teeth at two to three weeks of age. Their 30 permanent teeth erupt at about three to four months.

According to studies, about 70 % of cats have signs of gum disease by age 3.

Cervical line lesions are the most common tooth disease in domestic cats. Studies show that about 28 percent of domestic cats develop at least one of these painful lesions during their lifetime.