ABSTRACT By the age of 2 years , it is estimated that 80 % of dogs have periodontal disease ( Stott , 2019 ), as do 70 % of cats over 3 years old ( Ackerman , 2020 ; Cullen , 2011 ) and 80 % of older cats ( Milella , 2012 ). Early treatment of periodontal disease can prevent the complications of systemic disease , infection and malnutrition ( Stott , 2019 ). Heart , liver , kidney and respiratory health can all be compromised by periodontal disease ( Milella , 2012 ) and early intervention is deemed the only way to prevent periodontal disease from progressing .
Keywords oral , dental , periodontitis , gingivitis , teeth , tooth
Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is a group of inflammatory diseases and can be divided into two stages : gingivitis and periodontitis . Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gingiva caused by bacteria , and can be reversed by good oral care at home , whereas periodontitis is irreversible and causes tooth mobility and attachment loss ( Stott , 2019 ).
Plaque is a microbial community within a matrix of polymers of bacterial and salivary origin ( Milella , 2012 ) which can build up on a clean tooth within hours and cause gingivitis within 48 hours ( Milella , 2020a ). Plaque is soft and not always obvious on the tooth surface , whereas calculus is mineralised plaque that can only be removed by scaling the teeth ( Milella , 2009 ). This rough deposit encourages the proliferation of further plaque and bacteria ( Fletcher , 2015 ).
Halitosis , hypersalivation , anorexia and alterations in behaviour are the most common signs of periodontitis that are noticed by owners ( Stott , 2019 ). On closer assessment , changes in gingival colour , gingival bleeding , periodontal abscesses , gingival recession , tooth mobility and pathological fractures can often be seen ( Stott , 2019 ). Dental radiography can be used to give a more complete understanding of the extent of the periodontal disease , particularly vital in the case of tooth or jaw fractures , severe periodontal disease , resorptive lesions , missing teeth and oral swellings ( Milella , 2011 ).
It should be noted that some suggestions have been made on the method of scaling and the effectiveness of polishing teeth . Fletcher ( 2015 ) discusses these studies and concludes that manual scaling is less efficient than ultrasonic scaling , while different ultrasonic scaler techniques can cause damage to the enamel surface , particularly if contact time is over 5 seconds or the tip is used instead of the flat surface . In addition , the same study concluded that polishing with a soft prophy cup after scaling increases the calculus removal and does not increase enamel damage when combined with a fine prophylaxis paste .
Dogs
The breeds deemed most at risk include toy and small dog breeds ( Stott , 2019 ), border terriers ( Summers et al ., 2019 ), toy poodles , King Charles spaniels , greyhounds and brachycephalic breeds ( Westgate , 2021 ; Woodmansey , 2019 ). Maltese terriers and those with dental disease in their familial groups are also more at risk ( Partridge , 2018 ). Non-congenital dental diseases requiring veterinary intervention can include trauma such as fractures , discoloration and erosion through chewing hard materials .
VOL 38 • July 2022
35