Dental Diseases of Small Animals

Term for having 2 sets of teeth and what are the 2 sets called

-Brachydont

-Deciduous (baby) and permanent (adult)

Hardest substance in the body made of hydroxyapatite and calcium stones

Enamel

Makes up the majority of the tooths structure

Dentin

Calcified connective tissue at the root of the tooth

Cementum

Contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics to the tooth

Pulp chamber/Cavity

Quadrants of the Mouth (adults)

-Right maxilla: 100s

-Left maxilla: 200s

-Left mandible: 300s

-Right mandible: 400s

Quadrants of the Mouth (baby)

-Right maxilla: 500s

-Left maxilla: 600s

-Left mandible: 700s

-Right mandible: 800s

Last digit of three digit number

-Start at midline

-First incisors are 01s

-Canines are 04s

-4th premolars are 08

Dental Formula

-Maxilla over Mandible (only half of mouth)

Number of Total Teeth (cat/dog; deciduous/adult)

-Cat deciduous: 26

-Cat adult: 30

-Dog deciduous: 28

-Dog adult: 42

Which teeth do cats not have?

105, 405, or 406

Periodontal Disease

-The peridontium is the tissue that surround and support the teeth

-Most common disease (80% dogs, 70% cats)

-Graded on a 1-4 scale (based on bone loss, gingical changes, and mobility)

Periodontal Disease Grade 1

-Gingiva appears inflamed

-Gingival edema and bleeding on probing

-No tooth mobility

-Normal gingival sulcus

Periodontal Disease Grade 2

-Pocketing has increased with 25% attachment loss

Periodontal Disease Grade 3

-25 to 50% attachment loss

-Mobility with single-rooted teeth

-Possible furcation exposure

Periodontal Disease Grade 4

-Greater than 50% attachment

-Dental abscess, furcation exposures, mobile teeth, and gingival recession may be present

Dental Fractures

-Commonly associated with behavior of the pet and their chewing activity

-Upper four premolar is the most commonly seen dental fracture

-Addressing it could be as simple as restoration dentistry to extraction/root canal

Reasons for Dental Extractions of Fractured Teeth

-Fracture goes below the gumline

-Pulp cavity is exposed (root canal possible)

-Tooth has abscessed and progressed into periodontal disease

Dental Abscess

-Occurs when bacteria enter the pulp cavity of a damaged tooth and course to the tooth’s root

-Radiographically present with a lucent area around the tooth root

-Tooth root abscesses of the upper fourth premolars often present with swelling below associated eye (can cause ocular disease/damage; treat with antibiotics, extraction, and antibiotics)

Slab Fracture

-Down the length of the tooth, not across

Canine Ulcerative Paradental Stomatitis (CUPS)

-Inflammatory condition involving gingiva, cheek, lips, palate, and tongue tissue

-Can cause ulceration of the tissue that contacts the teeth

-Maltese, King Charles Spaniels, Greyhounds, and Labs are more susceptible

-Cause is unclear but suspected to be due to excessive immune stimulation from bacteria and plaque on the teeth

-Patients can present with halitosis, thick/viscous saliva, or anorexia/hyporexia with their oral changes

Treatment is full dental extraction

Gingivostomatitis

-Cats

-Often associated with FIV-positive cats

-Full oral extractions needed

Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions (FORL)

-Causes cavitary dental lesions leading to tooth destruction and loss

-Cause is unknown, but calicivirus, autoimmune, or metabolic causes have been proposed

-Chatter response

-5 stages

-Occur where the gingiva meets the dental hard tissue (gumline/cementoenamel junction)

-Greater than 50% of cats over the age of 3 will have at least one tooth affected by resorption

5 stages of FORL

1:Just involves enamel

2:Involves enamel and the dentin

3:Involves the pulp chamber (nerve supply)

4:Most hard structures have been destroyed

5:A residual gingival “bump” is left behind (surgery not necessary)

Epulis

-Common benign tumors found in dogs’ mouths

-Arise from the periodontal ligament (brachycephalic)

-Present with facial deformities, halitosis, and oral bleeding

-3 types

Three Types of Epulis

-Fibromatous: non-ulcerated, mushroom-like enlargement on the tooth

-Peripheral Odontogenic Fibroma: similar to fibromatous epulis but incorporates osteoblasts, causing bony formation

-Acanthomatous Ameloblastoma: pre-cancerous and invades local tissues. Cauliflower-like appearance and ulceration may be present

Epulis Treatment

-Excision is insufficient (arises from the ligament)

-Involves the removal of the associated tooth and curetting the alveolar bone to remove ligament fibers

-Acanthomatous ameloblastomas usually involve partial maxillectomies or mandibulectomies