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Imagine Having A Toothache And Not Being Able To Tell Anyone!
One of the biggest myths is that dental problems in animals don’t need the same treatment as they do in humans. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dogs have the same type of nerve supply in their teeth as we do, so anything that hurts us will hurt them as well.
All dogs, whether they are performance dogs or pets, should have a pain-free mouth. Dogs are so good at hiding signs of pain that oral and dental issues often go undetected. They don’t want to let the rest of the pack in. Anything that limits their usefulness to the pack may be grounds for exclusion. This is a survival instinct. Dogs will suffer in silence for as long as they can, and they only stop eating when they can’t bear the pain anymore.
How To Get The Most Out Of This Article
This article has been written to help you understand how oral and dental problems develop in puppies, what the implications of these issues are, and what options are available to you and your pup to achieve the best outcomes in terms of overall health, comfort and performance. You don’t need to read it from top to bottom, as your dog would need to be pretty unlucky to need all the advice included here!
If you look through the information on what a normal mouth is, you will be able to understand how each problem can arise.
If you would like to speak to me about your dog, please feel free to call me on 1300 838 336 or email me at sydneypetdentistry.com.au
The Normal Mouth
We need to know what is normal in order to detect and understand dental problems. There are 28 puppies (primary, milk or deciduous).
The baby teeth erupt between 3 and 8 weeks of age. These are replaced with permanent teeth between 4-7 months of age. There should be 42 teeth for an adult dog. The number of adult teeth is different because some of them don’t have a deciduous version.
There are four different types of teeth.
Small front teeth which are used to cut and groom are called incisors.
Large fangs used for hunting, piercing, holding objects and protection.
The cheek teeth are used for holding, shearing, and grinding.
The teeth on the back of the mouth are referred to as the ‘carnassial’ teeth, and they are similar to a pair of scissors. The upper carnassial is the fourth premolar, while the lower one is the first.
What is a normal bite?
The way the teeth align with each other is referred to as anocclusion. The upper incisors are usually in front of the lower incisors. The lower canines sit in the gap between the upper canines and corner incisors.
A reverse scissor bite is the standard for some breeds, where the upper incisors are behind the lower ones, and the lower canines are shifted forward. A level bite, where the upper and lower incisors are in line with each other, is acceptable in some breeds.
The points of the lower premolars should point to the spaces between the upper premolars. Outside the lower carnassial tooth should be the upper carnassial tooth.
What Is The Normal Structure Of A Tooth And Its Socket?
The basic structure of a dog tooth is the same as that of a human tooth.
There is a Below the gumline is the root of the tooth, which is called the crown.
The bulk of the tooth is made up of a hard material called dentine, which has tiny tubules running from the inside to the outside. The tooth in puppies is more fragile than in an older dog. The tooth develops as it matures.
The crown is made of the hardest material in the body. This cannot be regenerated if it is damaged.
There is a Blood vessels, nerves and immune cells are contained in the tooth’s pulp. If the nerves are exposed or stimulated they can cause sensitivity or intense pain.
The root of the tooth is covered in cementum and attached to the bone.
There is a The junction between the crown and root is where the gingiva attach.
