Dentistry: Fact or Fiction

1. Dogs and cats don’t feel dental pain the way people do. They have a higher pain threshold.

Fiction:
Dogs and cats feel dental pain the same way and to the same degree as humans. The reasons many people misinterpret signs of pain in dogs and cats is because nature has taught animals to mask their pain. In the animal world pain is a sign of weakness and can affect an animals chance of survival. Domestication has not affected this instinct. Many pets will continue to eat with significant pain. To them it is better to eat with a sore tooth than to go hungry. Also, pets have no way of knowing that by complaining, they will increase their chance of getting relief.

2. You can do a simple scaling without anesthesia for minor tartar accumulations and mild gingivitis.

Fiction:
A thorough oral examination and appropriate cleaning can not be done without general anesthesia. When doing a scaling on an awake pet you can only scale the crown (portion of the tooth above the gum-line) of the tooth. This leaves three sides of the teeth untreated, in between and the back of each tooth. Most of the disease that occurs in the mouth is a result of subgingival (below the gum-line) plaque and bacteria. Also, the polishing portion of the dental is just as important as the scaling. When you scale the teeth this creates microscopic grooves in the enamel surface. If these grooves are left alone they create an environment that allows plaque and bacteria to accumulate very easily. The dental polish contains small granules which basically buff out these grooves. The polish also contains fluoride which strengthens the tooth surface. Without anesthesia you are unable to examine each tooth for periodontal changes, look for oral masses, fractured or worn teeth, etc.

3. It is not safe to put older pets under anesthesia for dentistry.

Fiction:
At Allendale Veterinary we make every effort to minimize anesthetic risk and make every procedure as safe as possible for your pet regardless of their age. We require a pre-anesthetic blood panel, a thorough physical exam and an EKG prior to any anesthetic episode. Every patient is handled as an individual, so in certain cases we may also require an ultrasound and radiographs. If there are any abnormal findings on any of the pre-anesthetic tests we address those issues first before proceeding with the dentistry. If the physical exam and all of the test results are normal we can proceed with the dental. We provide all of our patients with extensive supportive care such as IV fluids and pain medication to make the recovery period as smooth and comfortable as possible. All of our patients regardless of their age have their anesthetic drugs tailored for their individual needs.
***No healthy animal should be denied the benefits of proper dental care because they were born a long time ago.***

 

4. If a broken tooth does not seem to be bothering the pet, there is no need to treat it.

Fiction:
Many times the pet will still eat normally and show no signs of discomfort. On physical exam there is often no evidence of oral swelling or inflammation. However, if pulp cavity is exposed it is a problem that MUST be treated. An exposed pulp chamber provides a direct passage for bacteria to enter the periodontal ligament space around the root tip. This will cause infection, pain and eventually tooth and bone loss. If there is a fractured or worn tooth with pulp exposure extraction or a root canal are the only options.

5. Periodontal disease is an inevitable consequence of aging.

Fiction:
Periodontal disease is almost entirely preventable. With the consistent use of dental diets, abrasive chew toys, daily tooth brushing, and timely professional veterinary cleanings, it is very possible for your pet to live a long life with all of their teeth and no periodontal disease. However, there are certain immune mediated conditions that may cause dental problems which cannot be managed or prevented by diligent oral healthcare. Some of these conditions include Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions, and Lymphocytic/Plasmocytic Stomatitis. The doctor will advise you of the special needs associated with these conditions.