| Dental Health Month |
| February is Dental Health Month and we want to present some information and tips to help you keep your pet's mouth healthy. |
Kittens have deciduous ("baby") teeth. They have 12 incisors, 4 canines, and 10 premolars, but no molars. These teeth appear between 3-6 weeks of age, then they begin to lose them at 3 to 3-1/2 months old, and they should be replaced with adult teeth by 6-7 months old. In some kittens, they can retain these baby teeth, meaning the baby tooth is still present even after the adult tooth has come through. This can lead to misalignment of the teeth if the baby tooth is left in place and can affect their chewing/eating. This is corrected by extracting the baby tooth while under anesthesia. If done early enough, the adult tooth should move into its proper place after the baby tooth is removed. The procedure is usually done at the same time as the spay or neuter surgery. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adult cats should have 30 teeth - 12 incisors, 4 canines, 10 premolars (6 upper and 4 lower), and 4 molars. Signs of dental disease in cats: -Excessive drooling, sometimes blood tinged -Decreased interest in food or reluctance to eat when at the bowl -Finicky appetite, such as preferring soft food over hard kibbles -Trouble chewing or swallowing and/or dropping food from their mouth -Halitosis (bad breath) -Pawing at face or shaking their head Dental disease in adult cats can start early, even 1-2 years old, but is usually noted in middle- age to senior cats. It can range from gingivitis to tartar and more serious conditions. The most common presentation of dental disease in cats is tartar and calculus build-up. When you look at your cat's teeth, you may see a tan discoloration on the teeth, usually starting at the gumline. This is tartar and it is a mineralized plaque formed by bacteria in the mouth. It is usually seen in the early stages on the back teeth (molars/premolars), but will extend to the front teeth as time goes on. It can get very thick and cover a majority of the tooth, which is when it is called a calculus. Food and other bacterial waste sticks to the tartar/calculus and causes bad breath as it decays. This tartar, bacteria, and decay will lead to infection and gingivitis (inflammed gums). If the disease progresses without treatment, your cat will develop periodontal disease, which is infection/inflammation of the bone and ligaments that support the tooth. These structures will become destroyed over time and lead to the tooth falling out. In severe cases, this can lead to bone infection in the area the tooth sits. Cats can develop a specific disease process known as cervical neck lesions. These are lesions on the teeth, usually just above the gumline, where the enamel will slowly wear away and deep cavities will form. It is a very painful disease and the only treatment is tooth extraction. The cause of these lesions is unknown. Treatment and Prevention If tartar is treated early enough and treatment/preventative care is started, the periodontal disease can be avoided. Treatment of tartar is cleaning the teeth with an ultrasonic scaler, then polishing them smooth. This is done under general anesthesia, therefore it is necessary for a doctor to examine your pet prior to the procedure to make sure they are healthy otherwise. Cleaning teeth will not cure dental disease. As with humans, your pet will still eat everyday and bacteria will live in the oral cavity, so we need a daily maintenance plan for after the cleaning. Brushing your cat's teeth isn't the easiest thing in the world, but if it can be attempted, that would be a big benefit. Use either a small pet toothbrush/fingertip brush or moistened gauze pad and a veterinary toothpaste to quickly brush the outside aspect of the teeth. DO NOT USE HUMAN TOOTHPASTE. Another way to help prevent dental disease is by feeding a veterinary dental diet. They are specially formulated to help prevent tartar buildup. Examples are Science Diet T/D or Purina DH diets, which we use as treats in our exam rooms. |
| Cats |
