Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Alyssa Banesse
Mrs. DeBock
Block 3
Oral hygiene in humans is a basic necessity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. On the other
hand, every-day people have yet to understand the importance of oral hygiene in animals, more
specifically, canines. A surplus of pet owners are oblivious to the multiple causes and effects of
neglected teeth cleanings. An absence of attention to animal oral hygiene can possibly result in
heart disease or even death. However, there are a multitude of preventatives and surgical
reversals a pet owner can consider. Similarly, those same pet owners are unaware of prevention
methods and surgical procedures that can only benefit ones pet. From professional medical help
Humans and animals require certain care and maintenance to live a happy, healthy, and
prolonged lifestyle. Prevention and maintenance go hand in hand, and there are a multitude of
ways to achieve both. Daily brushing is the most effective preventative measure against
periodontal disease that can be performed at home (King). For some pet owners, constant
professional cleanings can be costly and strenuous. However, professional dental screenings are
far more effective in the sense that they use anesthetics to carefully put the patient to sleep. From
there on the hygienist is more capable of removing plaque from the problematic areas. These
include further back in the jaw, and on the resting gum line. Without anesthetics a pet owner
would not be able to give the dog the proper cleaning it requires. The effects of a regular oral
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visit can be achieved with an at home teeth cleaning with a toothbrush that can be specially
formulated for a canines mouth. Some are made to simply be attached on the tip of the owners
pointer finger. Certain techniques are recommended when easing into an at home teeth cleaning.
Brushing in a circular like motion for about five to ten circles work for one tooth (Marder). A
technique like this can lessen the amount of plaque and tartar build up, which are both harmful to
humans and animals. Another simple option includes a careful eye on ones pet. Checking
breath, gums, color, swelling of gums, and exposed teeth are vital when looking for early on
tooth decay and rot (Marder). Prevention is imperative, so a once a week check in with ones pet
change a dogs diet. The tooth breaks into the hard kibbles surface, without breaking it, thus
creating a sort of tartar and plaque scraper (King). Making this yet another painless approach to
extending a pets life. If a pet owner were to follow these painless procedures the animal would
Any mammal, humans or dogs, could potentially be afflicted with the negative effects of
a neglectful upkeep. Bacteria is the main cause for almost all periodontal diseases. Many
experimental studies regarding periodontal illnesses relate tooth color to plaque, tartar, and
calculus buildup. If found in a decayed tooth, it can move through a dogs blood stream and
reside in the heart valves, which can then lead to fatal diseases (Harmer). Unlike majority of oral
health recovery, this may not be reversible and tremendously painful. An owner should be aware
of characteristics linked to heart disease. Symptoms such as a loss of appetite, weight loss, lack
of steady breathing, and heavy urination, display an immediate necessity to see a specialist.
These are primarily caused by weak or deteriorating teeth. As plaque and tartar accumulate on
the teeth, they create an environment under the gumline where normal aerobic bacteria become
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anaerobic bacteria, which are harmful to the tissues surrounding the teeth (King). If there
becomes a serious deterioration surrounding the tooth and the gum line, surgical procedures may
become a desideratum to prolong ones pet life. Dry food is said to be more proficient in
removing plaque and calculus build up (Ranjan). Wet food, if caught in between teeth, can
remain there and increase bacterial build up, which therefore will reduce the chance of acquiring
any type of periodontal disease. Although, with every disease or decay there is an achievable
procedures, and termination surgeries of periodontal diseases that have accumulated throughout a
dogs lifespan. Procedures as easy as an anesthetic based teeth cleaning to a tooth extraction to,
all require medical and professional attention. Depending on the severity of the tooth decay or
plaque buildup, certain surgeries may only work for specific cases. Certain machines and graphs
help in the diagnosis of bone decay and deformities. Using a dental radiograph of a patients
mouth is alway the primary step in deciding the next move (Kressin). A Radiograph is essentially
the same thing as an x-ray. It shows the veterinarian what is wrong, how to fix it, and in what
amount of time. As a matter of fact, dogs feel pain just like humans, which is a principle
indication in determining if tooth decay or any type of disease is prominent.. For a preventative
jaw maldevelopment, some veterinarians recommend a full teeth set extraction. This procedure
can immediately eliminate a painful traumatic occlusion and allow for a normal occlusion of the
secondary (adult) dentition (Kressin). A major topic of worry is the negative effects of a
surgical removal. Facial swelling, tooth discoloration, draining tracts, excessive bleeding, and
perforation of canals are just some to name a few (Kressin). Final radiographs should show any
remaining bone, debris, or root inside the canines mouth. Where the bulk of all complications
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derive is shown within the last radiograph. There should the surgeon discover a malfunction
would they proceed to fix to prevent earlier stated complications. Although these are some of the
more extreme procedures, they do happen to be routine in the sense that it occurs quite
Oral health is a vital factor in sustaining a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle. Many a
procedures have been found effective in the preservation of ones pets oral health. Though it
may sound jejune, oral health in all mammals are existential. Without it many of unknown, and
what some might call unimportant, diseases and pain may take place due to a lack of attention.
All in all, a pet owner should remain cautious and proactive when protecting a canines oral
health.
Works Cited
Dale Kressin DVM, FAVD, DAVDC and Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery Specialists,
LLC. "Dental (tooth) Extraction in Cats, Dogs, Rabbits and Other Species." Dog Tooth
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Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery Specialists, LLC. N.p., n.d. Web.
Hanks, Lisa A. "Care for the Aging Dog." Dog World 94.4 (2009): 34. MasterFILE
King, Marcia. "Facts Versus Fiction: Dental Health." Dog World 95.2 (2010): 36. MAS
Marder, Amy. "Can Your Pet Pass an Oral Exam?" Prevention 53.1 (2001): 154. Alt-
Study on Periodontal Diseases in Dogs - A Clinical Study of 103 Canine Patients." Intas
Polivet 11.2 (2010): 274-77. Academic Search Complete. Web. 12 Oct. 2017.