Dentistry:
Dental disease are the most common illness in dogs. Gum infections can cause pain, loose teeth, and even damage to the internal organs! If you are unsure if your dog has poor dental health then check if he/she has bad breath, trouble eating, loss of appetite, swollen gums, or tartar.
Diphyodont: Dogs have two sets of teeth deciduous which are the baby teeth and then permanent teeth which are the adult teeth.
Puppies= 28 deciduous teeth
Dogs= 30 permanent
Kittens= 26 deciduous
Cats= 42 permanent
The deciduous come out within 24 weeks then the permanent move in.
Types of teeth:
*Incisors= Used to cut and nibble food
*Canine= Used to hold and tear food
*Premolars= Used to cut and hold food
*Molars= Used to grind food
Both dogs and cats can get gingivitis (Periodontal disease is a bad case of gingivitis). Gingivitis starts off as plaque on the teeth ( mixture of bacteria, food, and saliva.) If untreated plaque becomes tartar. Which then causes infections and the bleeding gums can also cause internal organ issues. Broken teeth is another common problem on dogs because they chew on hard things. It is recommended that your dog gets a dental exam once or twice a year. Brush your dog's teeth twice a week to prevent any build up.
Professional cleaning is required periodically. If you see any signs of poor dental health take the animal to a vet. During a professional cleaning the dog is given anesthesia, then they scrape under both the gum line and tooth, later the teeth are polished and given a fluoride treatment.
Plaque: Mixture of bacteria, food, and saliva.
Tartar: Hardened plaque
Gingivitis: Infection in the gums
Periodontal disease: Infection around the teeth
Prophylaxis: Process of cleaning teeth
Stomatitis: Inflammatory disease caused by bleeding of the mouth.
Dental Charting
Why?
When your pet has any dental issues they are recorded in a dental chart and placed in the patients records. This allows the veterinarian to give you the proper care and treatment your pet needs, it allows vets communicate with other vets (if you transfer clinics).
What?
Dental charting shows
-Dental History
-Animal's skull size (Brachycephalic= Flat, Mesiocephalic= Medium, Ddichocephalic= Long Nose)
-Oral hygiene
-Tooth abnormalities
-Radiography findings
Dental Cleaning
Frequency
Depends on what type of food the dog eats wet or dry.
Procedure
Step 1: With gloves on lift the dog's upper lip and observe teeth
Step 2: Look for abnormalities
Step 3: Use dental probe to measure depth of tooth injuries and checking debry build up
Step 4: With gauze sponge wipe away any blood, saliva, and debry
Importance
To check if any dental problems are present and to stop them before the problem worsens.
Tools
-Gloves
-Gauze Sponge
-Dental probe
-Dental mirror
Dental disease are the most common illness in dogs. Gum infections can cause pain, loose teeth, and even damage to the internal organs! If you are unsure if your dog has poor dental health then check if he/she has bad breath, trouble eating, loss of appetite, swollen gums, or tartar.
Diphyodont: Dogs have two sets of teeth deciduous which are the baby teeth and then permanent teeth which are the adult teeth.
Puppies= 28 deciduous teeth
Dogs= 30 permanent
Kittens= 26 deciduous
Cats= 42 permanent
The deciduous come out within 24 weeks then the permanent move in.
Types of teeth:
*Incisors= Used to cut and nibble food
*Canine= Used to hold and tear food
*Premolars= Used to cut and hold food
*Molars= Used to grind food
Both dogs and cats can get gingivitis (Periodontal disease is a bad case of gingivitis). Gingivitis starts off as plaque on the teeth ( mixture of bacteria, food, and saliva.) If untreated plaque becomes tartar. Which then causes infections and the bleeding gums can also cause internal organ issues. Broken teeth is another common problem on dogs because they chew on hard things. It is recommended that your dog gets a dental exam once or twice a year. Brush your dog's teeth twice a week to prevent any build up.
Professional cleaning is required periodically. If you see any signs of poor dental health take the animal to a vet. During a professional cleaning the dog is given anesthesia, then they scrape under both the gum line and tooth, later the teeth are polished and given a fluoride treatment.
Plaque: Mixture of bacteria, food, and saliva.
Tartar: Hardened plaque
Gingivitis: Infection in the gums
Periodontal disease: Infection around the teeth
Prophylaxis: Process of cleaning teeth
Stomatitis: Inflammatory disease caused by bleeding of the mouth.
Dental Charting
Why?
When your pet has any dental issues they are recorded in a dental chart and placed in the patients records. This allows the veterinarian to give you the proper care and treatment your pet needs, it allows vets communicate with other vets (if you transfer clinics).
What?
Dental charting shows
-Dental History
-Animal's skull size (Brachycephalic= Flat, Mesiocephalic= Medium, Ddichocephalic= Long Nose)
-Oral hygiene
-Tooth abnormalities
-Radiography findings
Dental Cleaning
Frequency
Depends on what type of food the dog eats wet or dry.
Procedure
Step 1: With gloves on lift the dog's upper lip and observe teeth
Step 2: Look for abnormalities
Step 3: Use dental probe to measure depth of tooth injuries and checking debry build up
Step 4: With gauze sponge wipe away any blood, saliva, and debry
Importance
To check if any dental problems are present and to stop them before the problem worsens.
Tools
-Gloves
-Gauze Sponge
-Dental probe
-Dental mirror