1. Dental Prophylaxis in Dogs and Cats
Amanda Laffoon
Adv. Terminology
Fall 2014
Tarleton State University

2. Dental Prophylaxis What is a dental prophylaxis?
If we break this down a dental pertains to the teeth and prophylaxis is to help prevent disease.
*Veterinary terminology

3. What's in a tooth?
A tooth is comprised of many structures. We have the enamel that covers the crown on the tooth. The make up of the tooth is dentin and in the middle of the tooth we have the pulp cavity which supplies the blood vessels and nerves. The portion of the tooth in the gingiva (gums) has an outer layer called the cementum which helps the periodontal ligament hold on to the tooth. When oral disease starts, the bacteria can break down that bond.
*Veterinary Terminology

4. Canine Dental Formula *Virbac Deciduous teeth (baby teeth): 28
eruption : days
completion of eruption : 50 days
shedding : days
Permanent teeth (adult teeth): 42
Incisors : days. Upper incisors erupt before the lower incisors
Canines : days (growth continues up to months) Lower canines erupt before the upper canines.
P1 : days
P2/P3 : 150 days
P4 : days (completed)
M1 : days
M2 : days
M3 : days
*Virbac

5. Feline Dental Formula *Virbac Deciduous teeth: 26
Incisors : days
Canines : days
Molars (except first upper molar) : days
First upper molar : days
Permanent teeth: 30
Incisors : days
Canines : days
Premolars : days
Molars : days
*Virbac

6. Performing a Dental Link: Canine Dental
The animal is anesthetized, the teeth are evaluated to give a dental score, radiographs can be preformed and then the dental begins. Using a scaler (hand or ultrasonic) removes the plaque and tartar from the tooth. After the scaling, the teeth are polished with an abrasive paste to smooth out any lines made on the tooth made from the scaling (decreases particles getting into the grooves of the teeth to set up camp for bacteria).
*American Veterinary Dental College

7. Dental Scores
Giving a dental score puts the patient on a chart showing how severe the dental disease is and how much damage has been done to the tooth and gum.

8. Dental Radiographs Link: Feline Dental Radiographs
Taking radiographs of the teeth let us know what's going on with the tooth below the gingiva. Fractured or broken roots, tumors, tooth resorption and even unerupted teeth can be seen. This information is extremely helpful to the veterinarian. The patient may need extractions, root canal or even surgery to remove tumors.
*Dentistvet

9. Malocclusion?
Occlusion is how the teeth sit together when the mouth is closed. Malocclusion tells us the bite of the animal isn't normal. This can be genetic or environmental. Sometimes the default can be from bone structure, to the teeth themselves. It also weighs heavily of the breed, are they brachycephalic (short snout) or dolichocephalic (long snout)?
Types of maloclussion:
Overbite (sometimes called overshot, overjet, or mandibular brachygnathism)
Underbite (also called undershot, reverse scissor bite, prognathism)
Level bite (sometimes called even bite
Open bite (front teeth don’t meet each other when mouth is closed)
Anterior crossbite (canine and premolars occlude normally but one or more lower incisors are in front of the upper incisors
Posterior crossbite (one or more premolar teeth overlap the upper teeth)
Wry mouth or bite (one side of jaw grows longer than the other)
Base narrow canines (lower teeth protrude inward and can harm the upper palate)
Wry Mouth
Overbite
*Petmd

10. Signs of Dental Disease!
Bad breath
Loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar.
Your pet shies away from you when you touch the mouth area.
Drooling or dropping food from the mouth.
Bleeding from the mouth.
Loss of appetite or loss of weight
*American Veterinary Dental College

11. Lets talk bacteria? *Petmd
Dogs are dogs and cats are cats. Have you seen what dogs will eat? And cats, well they love to clean themselves! Over time these animals will develop a dental calculus which will need to be scaled off (removed). If dental issues go on with no intervention these animals can develop some really nasty bacteria and it does way more than make stinky breath.
What kind of bacteria is this? Usually this is a anaerobic bacteria meaning thrive best without any oxygen.
Oh just give them antibiotics! It's a bit more complicated than that! If you are not removing the dental calculus/evaluating deep pockets you are still providing a breeding ground for these guys.
And did you know this bacteria can travel through the blood stream? Causing problems with the heart, kidneys, liver and even the brain.
*Petmd

12. Prevention
Yearly exams by your veterinarian. They will evaluate your pets oral health.
Brushing your pets teeth with pet safe toothpaste. Finger brushes and wipes are available.
Dental foods/treats like t/d by Hills.
Dental chew toys.
*American Veterinary Dental College

13. Refrences http://www.avdc.org/ownersinfo.html
Veterinary Medical Terminology, 3rd Edition, Janet Amundson Romich
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Dowelldentalproducts.com, Animalgeneral.com, Crestwoodanhosp.com, darienanimalclinic.net, Drfosterandsmith.com, engler- engeneering.com, handpiecesurgerion.com, hills.com, httpbruceandsallywitt.files.wordpress.com, httpwww.animaldental.com.au, kingwestvets.com, legacy.owenboro.kctcs.edu, peavelovepets2.com, petattack.com, swvhreno.com, veterinary dental center.com, vetstreet.com, virginiaveterinarydentistry.com, vohc.org, webmd.com,