As veterinary dental specialists, we are often asked “How can my dog eat with missing teeth?” Our typical response is that they will most likely eat better without the diseased and painful teeth. Dogs are known for their sharp teeth and powerful jaws, which they...
Root canal therapy is a non-invasive and painless method that can save teeth in dogs. It has a success rate of around 96% and requires less recovery time compared to extractions(1). The term “root canal” is a colloquialism for endodontic therapy. For the purposes of this...
What is Periodontal Disease? Periodontal disease is the inflammation and infection of the specialized structures that surround and support the tooth (gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum and alveolar bone). By two years of age, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease. Considering...
Any abnormal growth in the mouth and the surrounding tissue is considered an oral mass. The tissues involved can be maxillo-facial bones (maxilla, mandible, facial, nasal, zygomatic, temporal, palatal bones), the temporomandibular joint, or soft tissues like gums, tongue, cheeks, lips, tonsils, palate, salivary glands,...
Most of us humans place a lot of emphasis on brushing our teeth. Not only for our oral health but for the prevention of bad breath. When it comes to this daily task, we have a distinct advantage over our pets due to our opposable...
Isn't it funny that we humans rarely notice our own bad breath? It is clearly obvious that our beloved dogs and cats are the same. Have you ever heard of your doggie’s housemate complain of bad breath or say, ‘go brush before I kiss you’?...
As veterinary dental and oral surgery specialists we are often asked about anesthesia. Many pet parents will express their concern for their pet’s safety during anesthesia. Some of them will have had previous bad experiences or have friends that have had bad experiences with anesthesia...
COHAT is an acronym for Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment. It is synonymous with “teeth cleaning,” “pet dental cleaning,” and/or “prophy.” Many, if not most humans, practice some form of daily personal oral hygiene such as brushing, flossing, water flossing, and/or mouthwashes/rinses. Our pets seem to...
We, as veterinary dental specialists, are often approached by the panicked pet parent inquiring what they can or should do because their dog (or cat) fractured a tooth. On the flip side, we are frequently asked “Why should we treat that broken tooth? My dog...
Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is a severe inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa in cats. The exact cause of the disease is unknown, as there are multiple factors involved in its development. The inciting factor is likely an abnormal response to plaque bacteria. Plaque is a...