Dogs have a lot of teeth: twenty-eight deciduous, or puppy teeth, and 42 permanent teeth. A dog's mouth needs attention and care to keep it healthy. In fact, good dental care has become a vital part of maintaining overall health for dogs. Because the bloodstream can carry bacteria from a dental infection, other organs can be compromised, including the heart valves and kidneys. Severe dental disease can be a serious health threat.
Many diseases can occur in the oral cavity, but problems with the teeth and gums are the most common and are addressed here. The main problems noted are periodontal, endodontal and orthodontal. These descriptive terms have to do with the part of the tooth that is affected. Periodontal refers to the outer tooth, root and gingival attachments. Diseases of the internal tooth structure are endodontal. Orthodontic disease involves abnormal positioning of the teeth.
Periodontal disease is the most common oral disease of dogs and can lead to infection and tooth loss if not controlled. The problem begins with the accumulation of plaque and tartar on the surfaces of the teeth that form at the gumline and can grow to cover an entire tooth. The gum tissue reacts by becoming inflamed; this condition is called gingivitis, and can be reversed with a thorough cleaning and polishing by a veterinarian. If left untreated, deeper tissues will become inflamed and result in damage to the gum tissues that support the tooth. Tooth loss, abscess formation, and even bone infections with draining tracts into the nasal cavity can occur.
The most common endodontic problem is a fractured tooth. Dogs commonly chew rocks, catch Frisbees and perform other activities with their mouths that can cause fractures, which can result in severe pain if the fracture extends into the pulp cavity and exposes the nerves of the tooth. Dogs exhibit pain by refusing to eat, drooling, and pawing at their mouths. These dogs may need to be referred to a veterinary dental specialist if the tooth can possibly be salvaged.
Orthodontic problems commonly occur when dogs do not lose their deciduous, or puppy teeth. Puppy teeth are designed to be pushed out of their gingival attachments by the erupting permanent teeth; if they do not fall out on their own, a veterinarian may need to extract them to prevent misplacement of the adult teeth. Improper tooth alignment also can result from trauma, tumors, or genetics. Trauma and tumors require surgical correction. Cosmetic corrections are also available, but are considered illegal in the dog showing community.
