Pet dental care is a vital aspect of caring for a pet, yet often neglected. Nonetheless, our pet’s teeth and mouths must be adequately healthy as well. Many pets are more dependent on their jaws and teeth than people are in several aspects. For example, when dogs and cats can not use their arms, they might pick up and carry things with their teeth and play games. When it comes to oral problems, pets feel just as bad as we do; therefore, any issues that impact them can be painful and unpleasant.
What Causes Tooth Extraction in Pets?
There are many reasons to extract a dog or cat’s tooth. Some oral issues that lead to tooth extractions can be avoided or at least mitigated. The most common reasons for tooth extraction are severe periodontal disease, tooth fracture, endodontic disease, tooth resorption, and caries or cavities.
The decision to remove a painful, unhealthy tooth is always better than keeping the tooth in the mouth untreated. If your pet needs tooth extraction, you can schedule an appointment with your trusted veterinary dentist or visit their site to secure a spot for your pet’s dental operation.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is a common illness in dogs and cats. It occurs when the immune system attacks plaque bacteria, causing periodontal tissue loss. Periodontitis starts in the gums. Inflammation of the soft tissue can lead to infection of the surrounding bone. Periodontal disease increases the loss of tooth attachment. Loss of periodontal attachment can quickly result in tooth loss, requiring extraction.
Complicated Crown Fractures
Complicated crowns are tooth fractures that expose the blood vessels and nerves. Difficult crown fractures are painful, infectious, and dead or dying. Injuries to the mouth can lead to tooth fractures in our pets. It is common for our pets to have tooth fractures when they chew on tough objects like rocks, antlers, toys or if they suffer an unexpected oral trauma.
It’s not enough to keep an eye on teeth with fractures. They should always be treated with the help of a specialist in veterinary surgery to remove the affected tooth or root canal treatment as soon as possible.
Tooth or Root Resorption
Tooth resorption is a condition that can affect both dogs and cats. This illness leads to tooth structural loss, nerve exposure, and pain. Tooth resorption is a relatively common occurrence in cats, affecting around one-third of the feline population. Pets suffering from tooth resorption may exhibit subtle behavioral changes in their eating habits. Extraction is always the recommended therapy for tooth resorption with nerve exposure.
Cavities
In dogs, cavities on the outer side of molar teeth damage enamel and dentin, perhaps exposing nerves. Cavities form when bacteria break down highly refined carbs, releasing lactic and acetic acids that destroy enamel and dentin. Preventative oral fillings help cure cavities. Untreated cavities can damage the enamel and dentin of the tooth, exposing the pulp chamber.
Root canal treatment could be an alternative if the tooth is not severely damaged, although extraction is generally the only alternative. To keep your pet’s teeth free of cavities, you can visit websites like www.tlcanimalclinic.com and learn how to do it.
Conclusion
Dental illness is common in dogs and cats. Sometimes, it worsens to the point of surgical extraction. As a pet owner, the intention is always to diagnose and treat painful dental diseases as early as possible, ideally before extraction is needed. To prevent surgical extractions, seek advice from your veterinarian or trustworthy veterinary dentist regularly to identify the most effective dental disease prevention methods.
