Interview accomplished with Dr. Alexandre Venceslau of VetDent:
1 – why is the dental treatment necessary?
The dental treatment in animals is as necessary as in people. Several diseases have origin in the oral cavity, and also oral diseases are very common in pets. In fact, the main disease that affects dogs and adult cats is the periodontite, that attacks about 85% of the dogs and cats above the 3 years of age, being the main and more frequent veterinary disease in these species.
2 – with that age should be begun?
So soon the deciduous teeth appear they are necessary cares with the oral health of the pet.
3 – with that frequency is necessary to do a treatment?
It depends a lot on patient for patient. In general, it is recommended that at least once a year the proprietor of the pet makes an evaluation with the specialized veterinary doctor, that will guide better as for possible necessary treatments.
4 – which the oral diseases?
The main, as already said, is the periodontite, that is characterized by the accumulation of bacterial plate, formation of dental calculation (tartar) and consequent evolution for gingivitis. But they are also quite common dental fractures, persistence of deciduous teething, jaw fractures, oral neoplasias.
5 – which the consequences of not treating the teeth?
The non treatment can in more serious cases to take the patient to the death. But, before that, a series of complications can happen, therefore a periodontite no controlled generates a bacteremia, with bacterial by-products going to the sanguine circulation and affecting organs as liver, kidneys, meninges, articulations and even the heart.
Dental fractures no treated can cause a lot of pain to the patient, as well as also the bacteremia.
6 – how to prevent the oral problems?
The best way is the daily, associated dental brush, a quality feeding and balanced. Besides, to avoid habits to provoke traumas and dental fractures or you pray, as for instance, games with tires, to pull rope, hard bones.
Also frequency visits is recommended to a specialized veterinarian, that it will detect any abnormality that is happening in the oral cavity of the pet.
7 – how does to know the animal need a treatment?
Usually the animals manifest signs that something is wrong with the oral cavity. Patient that pass the paw frequently in the mouth, they scrub the snout in the ground, they chew with an alone side of the mouth, they can be being attacked in some way. But not always they demonstrate that something this wandered, therefore, it is important to look at the oral cavity of the animal frequently.
Signs as bad breath, tartar presence, inflamed gum or bleeding, gum retraction, growth of “masses” (tumors) they are also indicative that something is not normal and it is hour of taking him to the veterinarian.
8 – which accomplished treatments?
Practically everything that takes place in the human dentistry today is possible to do in animals. Treatment of periodontite, channel treatment, dental correction with installation of apparels, prostheses, implants, etc.
Treatments that 10 years ago they were considered luxury or unviable, today it is reality.
Vet Therapy – Dr. Cynara Campanati
