Dental Health in Veterinary Medicine

What do animals use their teeth for?

Chewing Catching prey Self defense

What do vets look for in animal teeth? Look for signs of disease Look for broken and/or missing teeth Look for occlusal relationships* Approximate the age of the animal

How about these?* See slide note

Do animals get dental disease? Periodontal disease affects 85% of

cats and dogs over 5 years of age

How can veterinarians tell if an animal has tooth pain?

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What can dental disease do to my pet?

Cause pain Result in tooth loss Make eating difficult Lead to infections Lead to inactivity

What causes periodontal disease?

* * Bacteria forms plaques on the

teeth Plaque hardens to form calculus Plaque starts to touch the gums Bacteria and immune system release

destructive chemicals Destroys the attachment of the tooth to

the gum

Healthy gums

Pink gums Smooth Shiny

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Stage 1 – Periodontal disease

Red gums Swollen gums

Stage 2 – Periodontal disease

Infection around the teeth

Shallow pockets Bone loss

Stage 3 & 4 – Periodontal disease

Deep pockets Bone loss Loose teeth

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How can we prevent periodontal disease? Any ideas?

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How can I help my pet?

Brush your pet’s teeth! Lift lips Rub their gums and teeth Brush gently with a finger

brush or soft toothbrush Brush gently with pet

toothpaste on the fingerbrush or toothbrush

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Get your vet to show you how and do it only under parental supervision so you don’t cause harm.

Pet toothpaste

Some is flavored to taste like food

Does not contain fluoride. DO YOU KNOW WHY?

Contains enzymes. DO YOU KNOW WHY?

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Gumabones®

Pet chew toys

Havaball Chew Toy

Pet chew toys

C.E.T HEXtra Chews•Rawhide delivers mechanical action that abrades plaque from teeth above the gum line.•Saliva releases Chlorhexidine to provide sustained antiseptic action to eliminate placque-forming bacteria

C.E.T. Dual Enzyme Chews•Rawhide delivers mechanical action that abrades plaque from teeth above the gum line.• Dual Enzyme System is activated by saliva to produce Hypothiocyanite ions which eliminates placque-forming bacteria.

Pet chew toys

Goat Hoof

Toothpaste Enzymes

Enzymes are target specific (they only break down specific kinds of starches or proteins)

The manufacturer may not always explain on the label what kinds of enzymes are in the toothpaste.

How well they work in the toothpaste may be debatable.

Enzymes are proteins. For more about how they affectfood, see our Web curriculum modules on digestion:http://peer.tamu.edu/curriculum_modules/OrganSystems/module_2/whatweknow2.htm

Demo on protective effect of fluoride

What about cavities?

Do dogs and cats get cavities? … not usually.

Do you know why? There are two main reasons. Hint: cavities are caused by bacteria growing on trapped food.

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Dental Research

Better technology for braces Laser imaging for diagnosing early-

stage periodontal disease Zapping diseased gums with lasers Improved implants for missing teeth

Human Dental Care: Brushing Brush after every meal,

certainly before and after a night’s sleep. Rinse well.

Bacteria in the mouth ends up irritating the gums, getting into bloodstream.

Human Dental Care: Brushing People with gum disease are more likely to

have hardened arteries, heart attack, stroke, and even diabetes.

Teeth should be cleaned twice a year in a dentist’s office.

Insert strip of floss between each pair of teeth.

Work back and forth, up and down.

Rinse (note if you see residue even after brushing) See animation

Human Dental Care: Flossing

Water Picks

Direct spray between each pair of teeth and front and back surfaces.

Note if any residue appears in the water as it drains out of your mouth. If brushing and flossing don’t get it all, you may need to use water picks routinely.

Example NIH Research in DentistryUsing bacterial gene sequences to identify strains that cause rapid tooth decay.

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Plan for the study

Oral bacteria in a large group of racially/ethnically diverse children will be tested to see if the bacterial gene sequence can predict which children will get severe cavities.

Filling of an old cavity

New cavity forming

Expected benefit Early identification of children at risk

can lead to vigorous preventive treatment.

Teeth of such children can be sealed shortly after teeth emerge.

Molar tooth showing deep grooves that act as traps for food and bacteria.

Molar tooth with grooves filled with protective sealant

May I answer your questions?