31,596
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
→Treatment
'''Gingivitis'''
'''Gingivitis'''
Gingivitis is by definition reversible. Removal or adequate reduction of plaque will restore inflamed gingivae to health. Once clinically healthy gingivae have been achieved, these can be maintained by daily removal or reduction in the accumulation of plaque. In short, the treatment of gingivitis is to restore the inflamed tissues to clinical health and then to maintain clinically healthy gingivae, thus preventing periodontitis. Treatment involves performing a dental scale and polish with the purpose of professional periodontal therapy in the gingivitis patient being to remove dental deposits, mainly calculus (which is not removed by toothbrushing). Once the teeth have been cleaned it remains up to the owner to remove the plaque that re-accumulates on a daily basis.
The owner should receive information on good daily [[Oral Hygiene - Small Animal|dental home care]] such as [[Tooth Brushing|tooth brushing]] and [[Dental Diet|diet]].
Treatment of gingivitis relies heavily on owner compliance. It is important to stress to the owner that the disease is reversible and treatment and control may prevent this disease from becoming peridontitis, which is a lot more severe. The owner should receive information on good daily [[Oral Hygiene - Small Animal|dental home care]] such as [[Tooth Brushing|tooth brushing]] and [[Dental Diet|diet]].
====Summary for Treatment of Gingivitis:====
*Educating the owner to understand the disease process.
*Training and motivating the owner to perform daily home care.
*Instituting a daily home care regimen by the owner – ideally, toothbrushing with a pet toothpaste in conjunction with a dental hygiene product.
*Professional periodontal therapy (supra- and subgingival scaling and polishing) under general anaesthesia to remove dental deposits (plaque and calculus).
*Regular check-ups to ensure that the owner is following recommendations and to boost the owner’s motivation.
'''Periodontitis'''
'''Periodontitis'''
Untreated gingivitis may progress to periodontitis. In most instances in a practice situation, periodontitis is irreversible. It is important to remember that periodontitis is a site-specific disease, i.e. it may affect one or more sites of one or several teeth. The aim of treatment is thus to prevent development of new lesions at other sites and to prevent further tissue destruction at sites which are already affected. Treatment consists of a dental scale and polish and root surface debridement. Teeth with severe periodontitis will need to be extracted and periodontal surgery may be necessary.
Professional periodontal therapy removes dental deposits above and below the gingival margin. It then rests with the owner to ensure that plaque does not reaccumulate. Meticulous supragingival plaque control, by means of daily toothbrushing and adjunctive antiseptics when indicated, will prevent migration of the plaque below the gingival margin. If the subgingival tooth surfaces are kept clean, the sulcular epithelium will reattach.
====Summary for Treatment of Periodontitis:====
*Educating the owner to understand the disease process.
*Training and motivating the owner to perform daily home care.
*Instituting a daily toothbrushing regimen by the owner.
*Professional periodontal therapy – this includes supra- and subgingival scaling and polishing, rootplaning and extraction of unsalvageable teeth under general anaesthesia.
*Regular check-ups to ensure that the owner is following recommendations and to boost the owner’s motivation.
*Periodontal surgery may be indicated (if the owner has shown the ability to maintain adequate plaque control).
Regular examinations to assess the condition of the teeth are vital and the owner needs to be made aware of this.
Educate the owner of the disease process and also educate them on good daily dental home care such as tooth brushing and diet. Regular examinations to assess the condition of the teeth are vital and the owner needs to be made aware of this.
'''Periodontal pockets'''
'''Periodontal pockets'''