Why do our animals suffer from dental diseases at an early age?

More than 80% of dogs over the age of three suffer from periodontitis! Why is this?

In addition to poor oral and dental hygiene (see Homecare/Prophylaxis ), misaligned teeth also contribute to the early development of dental disease. Adult dogs typically have 42 teeth, cats 30. If these teeth have no room in the mouth due to a short skull shape (brachycephalic breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs, Shi-Tzu, etc.) or because there are more than 42 teeth (supernumerary teeth), they rotate and come extremely close together (crowding). As a result, there is no intact neck of gum around the entire tooth, and in some cases, the roots of the teeth are never anchored in the bone but only covered by gum. Food residues, foreign bodies, and bacteria quickly get stuck between the gumless teeth and get directly onto the bone, where they cause early periodontitis.

Misaligned teeth due to a too-short upper jaw (malocclusion grade 3): This results in the dog biting into the lower jaw with the upper incisors. This biting causes pain and inflammation when eating, which, in the long term, damages the lower jaw bone and the lower incisors. Supernumerary incisors and a discolored, avital incisor can also be seen.
© by Vets4Pets AG

Crowding and rotations, as well as additional supernumerary teeth
© by Vets4Pets AG

The change of teeth - what you need to be aware of as an owner

Dogs and cats are born toothless, but the foundations for milk and permanent teeth are already present in the jaw at birth.

Dog

A puppy's complete set of milk teeth, totaling 28, usually emerge between 3-12 weeks. The transition to permanent dentition, with a total of 42 teeth, typically begins at 3 months and should be finalized by 7 months. However, the duration of this process can vary among different dog breeds, with larger breeds often completing the teeth change earlier than smaller ones.

Cat

The complete deciduous dentition of a kitten consists of 26 teeth. These usually penetrate through the gums at 2-6 weeks. When they reach the age of 3 months, the change of teeth to the definitive dentition begins. This change is usually completed in 6-7 months.

Persistent milk teeth

The permanent teeth emerge on the inside/tongue side of the milk teeth, causing the root of the milk tooth to dissolve and it falls out. However, if the root of the milk tooth does not dissolve, both the permanent tooth and the milk tooth can be seen side by side, a condition known as a persistent deciduous tooth. This can lead to malocclusion, periodontitis, and even pain when biting into the palate. Regular dental checks, either by you as the pet owner or a specialist vet, are crucial to identify and address persistent milk teeth in a timely manner.

Traumatic occlusion

In traumatic occlusion, the animal bites into the gingiva or palate with one or more teeth due to misaligned teeth or jaw. This is very painful, as the tooth bites into the gingiva or palate every time the jaw closes. This results in severe inflammation of the affected gingiva. If this is not recognized and treated early, the gingival inflammation results in early (juvenile) periodontitis. Caudal traumatic occlusion can usually be treated by reducing the height of the crown. Depending on the extent of the periodontitis, it may be self-limiting, or the affected tooth may have to be extracted.

Juvenile gingival hyperplasia, juvenile gingivitis-periodontitis

In juvenile gingival hyperplasia and juvenile gingivitis-periodontitis in cats, the gingiva grows and becomes excessively inflamed due to an excessive immune response to plaque (bacterial deposits). The clinical picture typically occurs in kittens during or shortly after the dentition change. These hyperplasias should be removed, and the teeth should be cleaned as quickly as possible, as they inhibit the physiological exchange of fluids in the periodontal pockets and promote/cause periodontal disease. In addition, the fundamental cause should be determined and treated.