I.Oral Anatomy of Dogs

The mouth, or oral cavity, is a very important part of the digestive system in dogs. This is where digestion begins. As a dog chews, food is broken up into smaller particles for better digestion by enzymes in the stomach and small intestines. Teeth, therefore, play a very important role in digestion. The tongue front teeth help a dog pick up pieces of food and teeth in the back of the mouth grind food into smaller particles.

Adult dogs have 42 teeth. These consist of the incisors and canine teeth in the front of the mouth, and the premolars and molars in the back of the mouth. Each tooth has a visible part that is above the gums and part that cannot be seen that is below the gums. The part above the gums is called the crown and the part below the gums is called the root of the tooth. The crown is covered by enamel, one of the strongest substances in the body. Underneath the enamel is dentin, which makes up most of the tooth, and pulp which contains the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth.

The root of a dog’s tooth sits in the jaw bone. Some teeth have only one root and some teeth have more than one root. The tissue that surrounds a tooth at the gum line is called the gingiva. The gingiva in a normal dog is attached tightly to the jawbone underneath.

Tooth Anatomy

II.What are Plaque, Tartar, and Gingivitis?

When a dog eats, food, saliva and bacteria will stick to its teeth. This is normal. This combination of food, saliva and bacteria is called plaque. Plaque is easily removed from teeth by brushing. If the plaque is not removed, it accumulates and causes irritation of the gums. The bacteria in plaque produce toxins which make the irritation worse. This inflammation causes breakdown in the gum and tissue surrounding the teeth. Inflammation of the gum around the teeth is called gingivitis.

When plaque stays on the teeth for long enough, it will harden and turn into tartar or calculus. Tartar allows more bacteria and debris to accumulate. This makes inflammation of the gums worse. As gum inflammation gets worse, the gum recedes away from the tooth, the tooth becomes loose, bacteria and inflammation spread to the jawbone underneath the tooth, and eventually the tooth falls out. Tartar can accumulate above the gum line where it can be seen and also below the gum line where it cannot be seen.

III.What to Look For at Home – Symptoms of Dental Disease

Dental disease is one of the most common problems that dogs have. Up to 85% of dogs over the age of three years usually have some degree of tartar and gingivitis. The symptoms that owners notice most frequently include:

• Bad Breath (halitosis)


• Bleeding gums


• Blood on chew toys after a dog chews

As gingivitis and dental disease become more severe, other symptoms may appear. These include:

• Not wanting to eat


• Drooling


• Difficulty picking up food or chewing hard food


• Pain when the mouth is opened


• Enlargement of the lymph nodes under the jaw


• Swelling on the face underneath the eye

With advanced dental disease, it is possible for bacteria from the mouth to spread to other organs and cause infections. Organs which may be affected include the heart, kidneys, and brain.

IV.The Veterinary Visit – Diagnosis and Treatment of Dental Disease

Diagnosis of dental disease is based on physical examination. By opening a dog’s mouth and examining its teeth, it is easy to tell whether or not calculus and gingivitis are present. While calculus and gingivitis above the gum are easy to diagnose, tartar accumulation and infection below the gum line cannot be diagnosed with a physical examination. They are usually diagnosed with x-rays of the jaws. Normally this is done during treatment because it requires general anesthesia.

The best way to treat gingivitis and tartar accumulation is with a professional veterinary cleaning. This procedure is usually an outpatient procedure that is done in the veterinary office. It requires general anesthesia.

While a dog is under anesthesia, the teeth are cleaned and polished in the same manner that a human dentist cleans and polishes people’s teeth. The teeth are cleaned both above and below the gum line.

If severe dental disease and gingivitis are present, x-rays of the teeth and jaws should be taken while the dog is under anesthesia to have its teeth cleaned. This allows assessment of the health of the jawbone and root of the tooth and helps in preparing a treatment plan. In some cases, where there is an abscess or severe infection under or around the tooth root, a tooth may need to be pulled. X-rays of the jaw allow the veterinarian to decide which teeth may or may not need to be pulled. Most dogs do very well after having teeth pulled. A great many of them can even continue to eat dry food after losing a large number of teeth.

In some cases, owners may wish to not have teeth pulled. In this case, it is wise to see a board certified veterinary dentist. Root canals and other procedures may be done which might salvage a broken or infected tooth.

V.Prevention

The best way to prevent tartar accumulation and gingivitis is with daily brushing. Use special toothpaste made only for dogs along with a soft toothbrush when brushing your dog’s teeth. Do not use human toothpaste as it was not meant to be swallowed and foams too much. The video below contains a detailed description of how to brush your dog’s teeth.