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Dental Care
Our mission at American Animal Hospital is to relieve pain and suffering and promote a long, healthy, pain-free life for our patients. Did you know that animals are genetically hard wired to conceal signs of pain? It is a survival instinct, since in the wild, animals that show signs of distress usually end up being someone else’s lunch.
Dental disease is the most common cause of unrecognized pain and infection we see in our patients. The majority of pets over 1 year of age have some level of dental disease, which only worsens with age. Fortunately, for your pet, we can relieve this pain and help you to keep it from coming back. Our veterinarians and professional staff have undergone extensive training in veterinary dental medicine and we have top of the line equipment and facilities to treat and prevent dental disease.
We manage several different types of dental disease here at AAH:
- Periodontal Disease
- Broken Teeth
- Retained deciduous “baby” teeth
- Stomatitis
- Cancer
- Feline Resorptive lesions or FORL
We are here to help your pet. To talk with one of our highly trained staff members, call us at 920-725-8522.
Periodontal Disease
Stages of oral health:
Stage 0: No oral disease. This is the natural state of the oral cavity in pets. Most pets are born with a healthy mouth. Regular care, including brushing, will keep pets’ oral cavity healthy. At this stage of oral health there is no plaque or tarter build-up on the teeth, no gum disease and no gum recession. This stage contributes to pets being healthy and living a long life. We want all our patients to be at this oral health stage.
Stage 1: Gingivitis. At this stage, plaque and bacteria accumulate on the teeth and in the space between the gums and the teeth. There they cause inflammation and infection. Gum disease causes bleeding and discomfort when eating. It typically starts in pets around a year old and can be prevented by regular brushing. If not treated, gum disease eventually develops into periodontal disease. Pain is relatively mild at this stage. Treatment at this stage can be accomplished by a professional cleaning in the clinic followed by home care.
Stage 2: Mild periodontal disease. At this stage bacteria are becoming more toxic and begin destroying the bone supporting the teeth. As this stage tends to be chronic, the disease continues to develop unless treated professionally by your veterinarian. In addition to destroying the bone, bacteria can get into the blood stream and spread to distant organs. There are increased levels of pain.
Stage 3: Moderate periodontal disease. This is an inevitable progression of stage 2, unless treated. At this stage there is significant bone damage around the teeth and teeth are becoming loose. Smaller teeth and teeth of smaller dogs and in cats are beginning to fall out. At this stage the oral cavity constantly sheds toxic bacteria into the blood stream. Pain is increased and some pets will start showing signs of pain.
Stage 4: Advanced periodontal disease. At this stage the damage to the bone around the teeth is so severe that even large teeth are falling off. This is quite painful and many pets show obvious signs of discomfort: difficulty chewing and behavior changes, such as acting “old”, grumpy and being head shy. This is the result of their pain and the body having to fight severe and chronic infections, which weaken it and may cause chronic infection in the jaw bone, kidneys, lungs, heart and liver.
FACT #1
Most patients with dental disease we see are at stages 3 and 4!
FACT #2
Dental disease can be treated and prevented by proper oral care and regular teeth brushing.
Treatment of periodontal disease involves a thorough evaluation under general anesthesia. Each tooth is evaluated manually and by x-rays. Teeth that are not too badly damaged are cleaned and polished. Teeth that cannot be saved are extracted. The goal after periodontal therapy is to restore the mouth to stage 0 and then to keep it there by regular home care.
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