Feline experimental models for control of periodontal disease.

Feline periodontal disease has many elements in common with human and canine disease. Anatomic, physiologic, microbiologic, and immunologic differences between the three species make it impossible to predict with certainty whether successful approaches to controlling and treating canine oral disease will also prove successful in cats. We have developed methods for reproducible, quantitative evaluation of feline dental plaque and calculus. Our studies demonstrated that feline plaque accumulation peaks at 1 week after prophylaxis and that calculus peaks at 4 weeks after prophylaxis. These methods should be adequately sensitive to document control of plaque and calculus accumulation by efficacious chemical or antimicrobial agents.     

Preventing dental calculus formation in lemurs (Lemur catta, Eulemur fulvus collaris) and baboons (Papio cynocephalus).

The prevention of calculus accumulation in exotic animals is a relatively unexplored topic. A 6-mo study in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) and collared lemurs (Eulemur fulvus collaris) and two studies in baboons (Papio cynocephalus) (7.5 wks and 6.5 mo) tested the benefits of a primate diet coated with 0.6% sodium hexametaphosphate (HMP) in controlling calculus in these species using a sequential crossover design. The control regimen was an identical, but non-HMP-coated, dry primate chow. At study initiation, the primates were given a thorough dental prophylaxis and provided with the control diet or experimental diet. At the conclusion of the test period, the animals were anesthetized and examined for clinical calculus independently by two examiners. The animals were then given another dental prophylaxis, provided the alternate ration, and the foregoing procedures were repeated. When the animals were provided the HMP-coated diet, significant reductions in calculus formation of 48-62% were observed in the lemurs and the baboons. No clinically significant changes were observed in body weights or in blood chemistry values as a result of ingestion of the HMP-coated regimen.     

Periodontal disease. Therapy and prevention

Success in veterinary dentistry lies in good home care and regular, thorough dental prophylaxis. The removal of supragingival and subgingival calculus must be accomplished before periodontal disease can be controlled. When gingival sulcus depths exceed 4 or 5 mm, the gingivae must be excised or reflected to allow proper treatment of the pocket area. Antibiotic therapy should be instituted in the extensively involved veterinary dental patient.     

一例哈利犬牙结石的诊治分析

牙结石是成年犬门诊较为常见的一种口腔疾病,它是由牙菌斑和牙垢钙化后沉积在牙齿表面引起。牙结石是龋齿、牙周炎、溃疡性口炎、牙龈炎和齿髓炎等多种口腔疾病的主要诱因。本文通过对一例哈利犬的牙结石病例的诊治分析及经验总结,以期为宠物门诊常见疾病之牙结石的临床诊断、治疗和预防提供参考。     

Effective periodontal disease control using dental hygiene chews

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a newly developed dental hygiene chew for dogs, with and without a natural antimicrobial additive, compared with a reference diet. Efficacy was determined by measuring the severity of gingivitis and the accumulation of dental plaque and calculus in dogs after 4-weeks of being fed the different dietary regimens. Dogs fed a single daily dental chew had significantly less gingivitis (P = 0. 02), plaque (P = 0. 0004), and calculus (P = 0.0001) compared with dogs in the control group that were fed an identical diet but received no chews. The inclusion of the antimicrobial agent did not improve the efficacy of the product. The dental hygiene chews tested in this study have potential to help reduce the incidence of periodontal disease in dogs.     

益生菌牙膏缓解犬牙菌斑和牙结石的研究

[目的] 评价某公司生产的一款宠物用益生菌牙膏对犬牙菌斑和牙结石形成的缓解功效。[方法] 选取口腔健康、体况良好的成年比格犬10只,配对设计随机分为阴性对照组（n=5）和益生菌牙膏组（n=5）;阴性对照组仅饲喂犬粮,益生菌牙膏组每次餐后给予约4 g/只益生菌牙膏,每天2次,连续使用28 d;试验第0天对所有试验犬牙齿进行洁牙抛光处理,试验第14天和第29天分别对比格犬牙菌斑进行评分,第29天对牙结石进行评分并检测口腔气体挥发性化合物（H₂S+CH₃SH）浓度;当牙菌斑和牙结石评分均值以及口腔气体挥发性化合物浓度均值减少幅度≥15%时,定义为益生菌牙膏效果显著。[结果] 与阴性对照组相比,益生菌牙膏组在给予益生菌牙膏第14天时,牙菌斑评分均值减少幅度为-0.36%（P>0.05）,第29天牙菌斑评分均值减少幅度为21.47%（P<0.05）;第29天益生菌牙膏组牙结石评分均值减少幅度为6.54%（P>0.05）;第29天益生菌牙膏组犬口腔气体挥发性化合物浓度均值减少幅度为-44.59% （P>0.05）。[结论] 在试验期内,该款益生菌牙膏能够有效抑制犬牙菌斑的形成,但不具有减少牙结石形成和降低口腔气体挥发性化合物浓度的功效。     

Evaluation of a barrier dental sealant in dogs

A study was conducted in 40 healthy, randomly selected, client-owned, mixed and purebred dogs to assess the efficacy of a barrier dental sealant. All dogs showed evidence of dental plaque, calculus, or gingivitis. The dental sealant was applied to one side of the mouth following a professional teeth cleaning procedure and reapplied weekly for 8-weeks following the cleaning procedure. Dental parameters evaluated included plaque, calculus, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding indices. A statistically significant difference was detected between treated and untreated teeth compared with baseline values for plaque and calculus at weeks 4 and 8, gingivitis at week 4, and gingival bleeding time at week 8. A professional teeth cleaning procedure followed by a single application of the barrier dental sealant and weekly reapplication performed by a veterinarian or veterinary technician provided significant improvement in plaque and calculus indices during an 8-week period.     

Effect on canine oral health of adding chlorhexidine to a dental hygiene chew

A study to compare the effect of a dental hygiene chew with or without 0.2% chlorhexidine on the development of gingivitis and the accumulation of dental deposits was performed using 11 small dogs. Confirming previous data, the daily addition of a standard chew to a dry diet resulted in significantly less gingivitis and calculus after 3 weeks compared with feeding the dry diet alone. Addition of chlorhexidine to the chew made no difference to the degree of gingivitis or the amount of calculus that accumulated, but did result in significantly less plaque accumulation after 3 weeks. The abrasiveness of the chew, rather than the antibacterial activity of chlorhexidine, is likely to have contributed the most to the maintenance of oral health in dogs with mild gingivitis.     

Relationship between diet, dental calculus and periodontal disease in domestic and feral cats in Australia

Objective To compare the dental calculus scores and prevalence of periodontal disease in domestic cats eating commercially available canned and dry foods with those in feral cats consuming a diet consisting of small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.
Animals Twenty-nine feral cats and 20 domestic cats were included in the study.
Procedure A dental chart and dental calculus scores were recorded using the maxillary canine, maxillary third and fourth premolar, mandibular canine, mandibular fourth premolar and first molar teeth on both sides. Periodontal disease was recorded using gingival recession, increased periodontal pocket formation, radiographic alveolar bone loss, osteomyelitis, furcation and root exposure, and the presence of calculus as indicators.
Results Dental calculus scores were significantly higher in domestic cats than in feral cats. There was no statistical difference in the prevalence of periodontal disease between the two groups.
Conclusion It can be inferred that diet may play a role in the accumulation of calculus, but a diet based on live prey does not protect cats against periodontal disease.     

Long-term effects of a dental hygiene chew on the periodontal health of dogs

The objective of the study was to investigate the long-term effects of feeding a dental hygiene chew that has been shown to be effective in promoting periodontal health in dogs in short-term studies. Oral malodor, calculus, and plaque scores were still significantly lower after 21 months in the group that was receiving the dental hygiene chew, although gingivitis scores no longer differed significantly. There were no reports of any adverse reactions during the study. The results of the study support that feeding of the dental hygiene chew six days per week reduces accumulation of dental deposits, helps maintain periodontal health, and increases the time interval between professional periodontal intervention.     

Effect of a mucoadhesive gel and dental scaling on gingivitis in dogs

Twenty client-owned dogs diagnosed with gingivitis were studied over a 45-day period in order to investigate the effect of professional dental prophylaxis combined with the use of a topical mucoadhesive gel containing adelmidrol, an aliamide. A non-intrusive papillary-marginal-gingival index (PMGI) was measured at each assessment, while the gingivitis index (GI) was measured only at the beginning and end of the study. Compared to the control group, the treated dogs had a significant decrease (P < 0.005) in the average GI index during the course of the study. A significant reduction (P < 0.002) in the average PMGI index was observed in both groups 15-days following dental prophylaxis. However at 30 and 45-days following dental prophylaxis, the PMGI index values were significantly different (P < 0.005) from baseline only in treated dogs. These results suggest that the combined use of a mucoadhesive gel with dental scaling was able to improve the regression of gingival inflammation and lengthen the therapeutic benefits of dental scaling and polishing during a limited study period.     

Benefits of a 'dental hygiene chew' on the periodontal health of cats

A study was undertaken to determine the clinical efficacy of a chew designed to improve dental hygiene in the cat. The accumulation of dental deposits (plaque and calculus) and the effect on gingival inflammation were assessed in 15 client-owned cats while on two different regimens. In the first leg of the study, the cats were fed a nutritionally complete dry diet supplemented with one dental hygiene chew. In the second leg of the study, the same cats were fed only the nutritionally complete diet. This study demonstrated that the daily addition of the chew to the dry diet resulted in significantly less plaque and calculus accumulation on tooth surfaces. It was our experience that daily feeding of the chew helped maintain dental hygiene in cats; however, regular professional therapy is still indicated.     

Effect of two dietary regimens on gingivitis in the dog

The effect of two commercially available dietary regimens on the development of gingivitis and the accumulation of dental plaque, calculus and stain in the dog were studied. One regimen consisted of feeding an oral hygiene chew and a standard dry diet.
The other was based on a specifically designed oral care dry main meal. The study was conducted using 15 dogs in a two period, parallel cross-over design. Each period consisted of a one week pretest phase followed by a three week test phase. During the test phase, gingivitis and plaque were measured after one week and gingivitis, calculus, stain and plaque were measured after a further two weeks. Comparison of the two regimens showed that there were equal amounts of gingivitis, plaque and calculus by the end of the study. There was significantly more stain and significant loss in bodyweight when the main meal was fed.
The role of dietary modification in the maintenance of periodontal health is discussed.     

Effectiveness of a vegetable dental chew on periodontal disease parameters in toy breed dogs

Sixteen toy breed dogs completed a parallel, 70-day two-period, cross-over design clinical study to determine the effect of a vegetable dental chew on gingivitis, halitosis, plaque, and calculus accumulations. The dogs were randomly assigned into two groups. During one study period the dogs were fed a non-dental dry diet only and during the second study period were fed the same dry diet supplemented by the daily addition of a vegetable dental chew. Daily administration of the dental chew was shown to reduce halitosis, as well as, significantly reduce gingivitis, plaque and calculus accumulation and therefore may play a significant role in the improvement of canine oral health over the long-term.     

Effect of chewing rawhide and cereal biscuit on removal of dental calculus in dogs

The effect of chewing rawhide and cereal biscuit on removal of dental calculus was studied in 67 dogs. Two methods were used to measure supragingival calculus and calculus removal as a function of time and acceptability. Trial 1 used a quantitative method based on actual measurement of the area of calculus on a tooth, and trial 2 used a quantitative method based on an arbitrary grading system to establish a supragingival calculus index. Analysis was performed, using 2-factor (trial 1) and a 3-factor (trial 2) analysis of variance. Results indicated that dogs removed calculus from their teeth by chewing rawhide; some teeth were cleaned better than others. The optimal amount or frequency of rawhide treatment was not necessarily determined. It was determined that regular consumption of up to 3 rawhide strips/d for 3 weeks was safe. Processed biscuits were sometimes effective in removing calculus from dog's teeth; however, biscuits were not as effective as the rawhide in removing supragingival calculus.     

A MACROSCOPIC AND RADIOLOGIC INVESTIGATION OF DENTAL DISEASES OF THE DOG

The type and frequency of dental diseases and disorders were determined in 162 randomly selected dogs available for necropsy. There were 82 males and 80 females ranging in age from seven months to 14 years. There were 150 purebred dogs (50 different breeds) and 12 mongrels. Only four breeds were represented by ten individuals or more: Poodles (Miniature and Toy), German Shepherds, Dachshunds, and Boxers. The oral cavity was examined macroscopically, and missing teeth, dental caries, dental calculus (tartar), and gingival epulides were recorded as to frequency and distribution. After macroscopic examination of the oral cavity, the head of each dog was sawed at the midline, fixed in formalin, and radiographed. The frequency, severity, and distribution of marginal periodontitis, periapical destruction, and root resorption were recorded. The most frequently noted disease was periodontitis, which increased in frequency and severity with increasing age of the dogs. The disease varied markedly among and within different breeds. Small dogs were more often affected with periodontitis than large dogs. Periapical destruction was a common finding. Caries and root resorption were less common. Missing teeth was a frequent disorder regardless of age. Most of the dogs had dental calculus.     

Endodontic treatment and metal crown restoration of a fractured maxillary right fourth premolar tooth: a case report

A 2 year-old, spayed female Shetland sheepdog presented with a fractured maxillary right fourth premolar tooth during oral examination for a dental prophylaxis. Seven months after conventional root canal therapy was performed, the tooth was prepared for non-precious metal, full crown restoration, which was cemented in place 1 month after crown margin preparation. During re-examination for an unrelated problem 6 months later, the metal crown was in place and there was no evidence of further fracture of the tooth.     

Effect of a dental chew on dental substrates and gingivitis in cats

The use of special diets or dietary adjuncts, although not eliminating the need for regular professional therapy, may serve to improve gingival health during the interval between professional oral health assessments and intervention. This study was performed to determine the effect of a dental chew on dental hygiene and gingival health in cats. The accumulation of dental substrates and the development of gingivitis were assessed in cats fed either a dry diet only or a dry diet supplemented with dental chews. A two-period, crossover design was used with the test phase lasting 4-weeks. Results indicated that the daily addition of dental chews to a dry diet was effective in reducing plaque and calculus accumulation on tooth surfaces in cats, as well as reducing the severity of gingivitis.     

A retrospective study of dental conditions of captive brown bears (Ursus arctos spp.) compared with free-ranging Alaskan grizzlies (Ursus arctos horribilis).

The teeth of 63 skulls of brown bears (Ursus arctos spp.) that had lived in the Bernese bear pit between 1850 and 1995 were examined and radiographed for occlusion, loss of teeth, calcified dental plaque and calculus, attrition, and caries. Dental pathology and periodontal status were evaluated with respect to age and location in the dentition. Further techniques such as computed tomography, microhardness testing, histologic sectioning, and scanning electron microscopy were used in selected cases to verify the macroscopic and radiographic diagnoses. Fourteen skulls originating from free-ranging wild Alaskan brown bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) were examined as a control group. For zoo bears over 10 yr old, severe enamel and dentinal attrition has been observed in canine teeth, with exposed pulp and proximal lesions in molar teeth. Deposits of calcified dental calculus were found in various locations and increased with age. A much lower degree of calculus deposition was found in the Alaskan grizzlies, whose average caries frequency was higher but with large individual variation and different locations in canine teeth and occlusal lesions in molar and premolar teeth. Radiographic evaluation of perialveolar osteolytic processes revealed a greater frequency of apical and combined apical-marginal lesions of the alveoli in zoo bears over 10 yr old. Stereotypical behavior like cage chewing is a suspected cause of canine tooth and secondary alveolar lesions, whereas a nutritionally inappropriate diet and inadequate opportunities for tooth-cleaning activities are responsible for the lack of natural cleaning and the extensive calculus formation that results. The methods used in this study are useful in assessing and comparing the dental health status of free-ranging bears, and those living in zoological gardens, by evaluating anesthetized bears or bear skull collections representing both groups.     

The crystalline components of dental calculus in the domestic cat

Feline dental calculus was found to consist of carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite, Ca10(PO4)3(CO3)3(OH)2. Other forms of calcium phosphates consistently present in human calculus, and calcium carbonates found in horse, dog, and miniature pig calculus were not present. Calculus composition was performed using wet chemical method, x-ray diffraction, spectrographic analysis, and infrared spectrophotometric analysis. All samples showed traces of amorphous material, including magnesium and ammonium, but were negative for uric acid, cysteine, and oxalate.