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== Introduction ==

== Introduction ==

It is the most common dental disease in dogs and cats and the major cause of tooth loss in both species. There are numerous factors that contribute to the formation of the disease but the primary agent is dental plaque. Plaque accumulates at the gingival margin, partly due to insufficient oral hygiene.

It is the most common dental disease in dogs and cats and the major cause of tooth loss in both species. There are numerous factors that contribute to the formation of the disease but the primary agent is dental plaque. Plaque accumulates at the gingival margin, partly due to insufficient oral hygiene.

Initially the bacterial flora tend to be non-motile aerobes or facultative anaerobes. However, as the supply of oxygen is reduced by supragingival plaque accumulation and pocket formation, the bacterial flora become more motile and anaerobic. Important bacterial flora responsible include ''Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteroides asaccharolyticus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinomyces viscosus'' and ''Actinomyces odontolyticus''.  

Initially, the bacterial flora tend to be non-motile aerobes or facultative anaerobes. However, as the supply of oxygen is reduced by supragingival plaque accumulation and pocket formation, the bacterial flora become more motile and anaerobic. Important bacterial flora responsible include ''Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteroides asaccharolyticus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinomyces viscosus'' and ''Actinomyces odontolyticus''.  

[[Gingivitis]] and periodontitis are the two main forms of the disease. Gingivitis is the early form of the disease and often but not always progresses to periodontitis.

[[Gingivitis]] and periodontitis are the two main forms of the disease. Gingivitis is the early form of the disease and often but not always progresses to periodontitis.

'''Periodontitis''' - Inflammation and irreversible destruction of the tooth's supporting structures that includes the gingiva, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone and root cementum. It usually occurs after years of plaque accumulation and gingivitis. The epithelial attachments of the tooth regress apically and there is absorption of the associated alveolar bone, resulting in permanent loss of tooth support.

'''Periodontitis''' - Inflammation and irreversible destruction of the tooth's supporting structures that includes the gingiva, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone and root cementum. It usually occurs after years of plaque accumulation and gingivitis. The epithelial attachments of the tooth regress apically and there is absorption of the associated alveolar bone, resulting in permanent loss of tooth support.

'''Periodontal pocket''' - this describes the are of tissue destruction left by periodontitis. It describes attachment loss due to destruction of the fibres and bone that support the tooth which results in a pathological deepening of the gingival sulcus.   

'''Periodontal pocket''' - this describes the area of tissue destruction left by periodontitis. It is an attachment loss due to destruction of the fibres and bone that support the tooth which results in a pathological deepening of the gingival sulcus.   

== Signalment ==

== Signalment ==

Oral radiography can be used to assess periodontal disease. Cases of periodontitis will show generalised horizontal and vertical alveolar bone loss in focal areas. Radiographic signs of periodontal disease include resorption/rounding of the alveolar margin, widening of the periodontal space, loss of the lamina dura (cortical bone of the alveolus) and alveolar bone destruction.  

Oral radiography can be used to assess periodontal disease. Cases of periodontitis will show generalised horizontal and vertical alveolar bone loss in focal areas. Radiographic signs of periodontal disease include resorption/rounding of the alveolar margin, widening of the periodontal space, loss of the lamina dura (cortical bone of the alveolus) and alveolar bone destruction.  

Radiography allows to further characterise the type of periodontal pockets present. The two type are defined based on the relationship of the base of the pocket to the crest of the alveolar bone:

Radiography allows to further characterise the type of periodontal pockets present. The two types are defined based on the relationship of the base of the pocket to the crest of the alveolar bone:

:<u>Suprabony pocket</u>: this occurs when there is horizontal bone loss and the base of the pocket is located above the crest of the alveolar bone.

:<u>Suprabony pocket</u>: this occurs when there is horizontal bone loss and the base of the pocket is located above the crest of the alveolar bone.

:<u>Infrabony pocket</u>: this occurs when there is vertical bone loss and the base of the pocket is located below the crest of the alveolar bone within a trench-like area of bone.

:<u>Infrabony pocket</u>: this occurs when there is vertical bone loss and the base of the pocket is located below the crest of the alveolar bone within a trench-like area of bone.

Lobprise, H. (2007) '''Blackwell's five minute consult clinical companion: small animal dentistry''' ''Wiley-Blackwell''

Lobprise, H. (2007) '''Blackwell's five minute consult clinical companion: small animal dentistry''' ''Wiley-Blackwell''

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[[Category:Teeth_-_Inflammatory_Pathology]] [[Category:Oral_Cavity_and_Gingiva_-_Pathology]] [[Category:Expert_Review - Small Animal]] [[Category:Oral_Diseases_-_Cat]] [[Category:Oral_Diseases_-_Dog]]

[[Category:Teeth_-_Inflammatory_Pathology]] [[Category:Oral_Cavity_and_Gingiva_-_Pathology]] [[Category:Expert_Review - Small Animal]] [[Category:Dental_Diseases_-_Cat]] [[Category:Dental_Diseases_-_Dog]]