Periodontal Disease in Dogs

Dental disease or periodontal disease is one of the most common medical conditions in dogs and cats. Up to 98% of dogs and cats will experience some form of periodontal disease in their lifespan. Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria in plaque and tartar that accumulate on teeth and interact with the body at the gum line, causing inflammation. In some animals, this inflammation leads to breakdown of the attachment between the tooth and the jawbone, resulting in gum recession, bone loss, and eventually mobility or wiggliness of the teeth.

In the early stages of periodontal disease, deep professional cleaning followed by at home dental care is often adequate to stop the progress of disease.

As the disease progresses though, if a critical amount of attachment between the tooth and bone is lost, eventually extraction becomes the only treatment option for many teeth. Periodontal disease is very common in smaller dogs, like poodles and yorkies, and especially in brachycephalics such as french bulldogs, pugs, and shih-tsus.

In certain instances, advanced treatment such as guided tissue regeneration and bone grafting can be used to restore some defects and help regain lost attachment. We most commonly perform this for major important  teeth such as canine teeth and lower first molars.