In the first Banfield "State of Pet Health 2011 Report" which included 1.2 million dogs and 450,000 cats, dental disease topped the list of the most common medical condition for dogs and cats. Periodontal disease is the most common disease in companion animals. Periodontal disease can be divided into two categories: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is confined to gingival tissue, while periodontitis is a more severe form of disease involving loss of bone supporting the tooth. Periodontal disease increases significantly with increasing age, and decreases significantly with increasing body weight and is particularly obvious when comparing toy and small dogs with medium and large dogs. The common clinical presentations of periodontal disease include mobile teeth, periodontal and periapical abscesses with secondary facial swelling, gingival recession and furcation exposure, mild to moderate gingival hemorrhage, and deep periodontal pockets with secondary oronasal fistulas resulting in a secondary chronic rhinitis. Less frequently, severe gingival sulcus hemorrhage, pathologic mandibular fractures, painful contact buccal mucosal ulcers, intranasal tooth migration, and osteomyelitis have been reported. Two abnormalities may complicate the management of feline periodontal disease. These abnormalities include oral inflammatory diseases and resorptive lesions. When periodontal disease is complicated by either of these conditions, exodontia is usually the treatment of choice.
展开▼
