Stained Tooth and Teeth in Dogs

 

Teeth discoloration is any variation from normal tooth color. However, the normal color of teeth varies, dependent on the shade, thickness, and translucency of the enamel covering the tooth.

 

Any variation from normal tooth color is discoloration. The normal color of teeth varies, dependent on the shade, thickness and translucency of the enamel covering the tooth. Extrinsic discoloration occurs when exogenous pigment accumulates on the surface of teeth. That is, the cause of the discoloration is from an external source, rather than from a physical condition. Intrinsic discoloration is characterized by secondary factors that are happening inside the tooth, discoloring the underlying dentin.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

Intrinsic discoloration is characterized by secondary factors that are happening inside the tooth, discoloring the underlying dentin. Extrinsic discoloration, meanwhile, occurs when exogenous pigment accumulates on the surface of teeth. That is, the cause of the discoloration is from an external source, rather than from a physical condition. Common symptoms associated with both discoloration types include:

 

• Abnormal coloration of one or more teeth
• Fractured tooth
• Pitted enamel (the glossy covering of the tooth) with staining
• Rings or lines of discoloration around one or more teeth

 

Causes 

 

Extrinsic discoloration

• Bacterial stains from plaque (mucin, debris, bacteria and a thin film of food) and calculus
• Foods
• Bleeding gums
• Dental restorative materials
• Medications
• Metal

 

Intrinsic discoloration

• Internal (trauma, injury)
• Localized red blood cell destruction in the tooth (trauma)
• Systemic infections
• Medications (tetracycline)
• Exposure to too much fluorine (ingestion of toothpaste containing fluoride)
• High levels of bilirubin in the blood (from bile, the liquid in the gallbladder that helps to dissolve food in the intestines)
• Amelogenesis imperfecta (a condition in which dental enamel does not calcify enough)
• Dentinogenesis imperfecta. (a condition in which the dentin does not develop correctly)

 

Diagnosis

 

A complete blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, and a urinalysis. You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health, onset of symptoms, and possible conditions that might have caused this condition, such as diet, injury, recent illnesses, etc. The history you provide may give your veterinarian clues to the origin of the dental condition.

 

An oral exam is part of a thorough physical exam. Your veterinarian will need to x-ray your dog’s teeth in order to identify internal or external resorption, and whether restorative materials or bacterial stain from bacteria are entering the crown of the teeth. Your veterinarian may also use a strong fiber optic light that is focused on the teeth to determine vital from dead dental pulp (the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth). If the tooth (or teeth) need to be removed, your veterinarian will most likely need to subdue your dog with general anesthetize in order to extract it.

 

 

 

Enamel Hypoplasia/Hypocalcification in Dogs

 

The outer coating of the tooth, the enamel, develops according to a specific set of physical and environmental circumstances. Normally developed enamel will have a smooth, white appearance. However, when conditions in the environment interfere with the development of tooth enamel, teeth can take on a discolored, pitted or otherwise unusual appearance.

 

Bodily influences, like canine distemper virus (in young puppies that are not vaccinated) or a fever over an extended period of time, may cause pitting and discolored enamel surfaces. Local influences, like injury (even from baby tooth extraction) over a short period of time can cause specific patterns or bands to appear on the developing teeth. These types of traumas can result in less than normal deposits of enamel, medically termed hypocalcification. The lack of sufficient enamel may cause the teeth to be more sensitive, with exposed dentin (which is normally hidden underneath the enamel), and occasionally fractures of severely compromised teeth. The teeth usually remain fully functional.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

• Irregular, pitted enamel tooth surface with discoloration of diseased enamel and potential exposure of underlying dentin (light brown appearance)
• Early or rapid accumulation of plaque (bacteria, food film, dead skin cells and mucin) and calculus (calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate mixed with organic matter) on roughened tooth surface
• Possible gingivitis and/or accelerated periodontal/gum disease

 

Causes

 

• Injury during enamel formation on the teeth
• Canine distemper virus, fever, trauma (e.g., accidents, excessive force used during deciduous/baby tooth extraction)

 

Diagnosis

 

Discolored teeth may be found by your veterinarian during a routine physical exam, which normally includes a complete oral exam. Intraoral radiographs (X-rays) can then be taken by your veterinarian to determine if the roots of the teeth are still alive.

 

 

Gingivitis in Dogs

 

Gingivitis is a reversible inflammation of the gums and is considered the earliest stage of periodontal disease. In the early phases of gingivitis, some plaque is present and there is a mild redness of the gums, but the gingival surfaces are smooth.

 

The gingival sulcus, or gum pocket, is the narrow space between the inner wall of the gum and the tooth. As gingivitis develops, the bacteria present in these pockets changes for the worse, and the accumulation of more bacteria, which release toxins, destroy gums.

 

In advanced gingivitis there is plaque and calculus under the gums, moderate-to-severe redness of the gums, and the gum surfaces are irregular. Dental calculus is calcium phosphate and carbonate mixed with organic matter, while plaque is a collection of food, debris, bacteria, dead skin cells, and mucous that forms within 24 hours on clean tooth surfaces. The gum responds to plaque with an inflammation of blood vessels, swelling, and collagen loss.

 

More than 80 percent of pets three years or more of age have gingivitis. It develops earlier in life in toy breeds, and in general, affects dogs earlier in life than it does cats.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

• Red or swollen gums, especially on the side of the gum facing the inner cheeks
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Variable amounts of plaque and calculus

 

Causes

 

Plaque accumulation is one of the main causes leading to gingivitis in dogs. Predisposing factors include:

 

• Old age
• Crowded teeth
• Soft food
• Open-mouth breathing
• Bad chewing habits
• Lack of oral health care
• Uremia and diabetes mellitus
• Automimmune diseases

 

 

Diagnosis

 

Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your dog, taking into account the background history of symptoms and possible conditions that might have led to this condition. You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health and onset of symptoms, such as when the bad breath began, what your dog typically eats, whether your dog has had trouble eating/chewing, and whether your dog has had any previous health conditions. The routine you have been using to keep your dog’s teeth clean, if you have been using one, should be shared with your veterinarian as well, including the products you use.

 

Part of the physical exam involves closely examining your dog’s mouth to identify the condition. Your veterinarian will then make an appointment with you to bring your dog in for a dental exam. During the dental exam, your dog will be anesthetized. Your veterinarian will check the depth of the gum pockets, the amount of plaque and bacteria on the surface of the teeth, and will pull any teeth that are rotten or that are too crowded. All of the plaque and calculus will be removed using a scaling process that is done with special dental equipment, and if necessary, root planning. The tooth surfaces will be polished and the teeth will be reexamined after cleaning.

 

Oral Ulceration and Chronic Ulcerative Paradental Stomatitis in Dogs

 

Oral ulceration and chronic ulcerative paradental stomatitis (CUPS) is a disease of the mouth which causes painful ulcers on the gums and mucosal lining of the mouth cavity. The cause of this condition has been determined to be a hypersensitive immune response to bacteria and plaque on the tooth surfaces, and sometimes signs of CUPS will start subsequent to a dental cleaning, when these materials are loosened in the mouth.

 

While it appears that manipulation and antigenic stimulation (substances that stimulate the production of antibodies in the body) in the oral cavity may trigger stomatitis, it is also believed that such animals would probably have eventually developed the disease anyway. In some cases, the only resolution is to remove all of the teeth, so that the bacteria that is normally found on the surface of the teeth is no longer present in the mouth at all.

 

Certain breeds of dogs appear to be at higher risk for developing this disease. Maltese, cavalier king charles spaniels, cocker spaniels and Bouvier des Flandres have been found to have a higher incidence. One of the complications of CUPS is idiopathic osteomyelitis, inflammation of the bone and marrow, which cocker spaniels have been found to be predisposed to.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Swollen gums (gingivitis)
• Faucitis (inflammation of the cavity at the back of the mouth – the fauces)
• Pharyngitis (inflammation of the back of the mouth, continuous into the larynx – the pharynx)
• Buccitis/buccal mucosal ulceration (tissue of the inner cheeks)
• Thick, ropey saliva (ptyalism)
• Pain
• Loss of appetite (anorexia)
• Mucosal ulceration on the gums that meet the lips – also called “kissing ulcers”
• Plaque on teeth
• Exposed, necrotic bone (alveolar osteitis and idiopathic osteomyelitis)
• Scar formation on lateral margins of the tongue from prolonged inflammation and ulceration

 

Causes

 

Metabolic

• Diabetes mellitus
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Hypothyroidism
• Uremia caused by renal disease

Nutritional

• Protein-calorie malnutrition
• Riboflavin deficiency

Neoplastic

Immune-mediated

Infectious

Traumatic

Chemical/Toxic

Idiopathic

 

 

Diagnosis

 

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated/preceded this condition, such as chewing on cords or other inappropriate objects, recent illnesses, and the usual dental care that is provided. Your veterinarian will exam your dog’s oral cavity carefully to determine the extent of the inflammation, or whether any of the teeth are obviously in need of care. Standard tests will include a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis and an electrolyte panel in order to detect an underlying disease. Diagnostic imaging is also standard in diagnosing dental conditions. X-rays will be taken to determine bone involvement and judge the extent of idiopathic osteomyelitis.

 

Often chronic antigenic stimulation (from a chronic disease condition) will predispose an animal to development of oral ulceration and stomatitis. (Antigens are substances that stimulate the production of antibodies in the body.)

 

Retained Deciduous Teeth in Dogs

 

A retained or persistent deciduous (baby) tooth is one that is still present despite the eruption of the permanent tooth (between three to seven months of age). This can cause the permanent teeth to erupt in abnormal positions, resulting in an incorrect bite pattern (or how the upper and lower teeth fit together when biting or chewing). Retained deciduous teeth may also cause overcrowding of teeth, accidental bites into the palate, or an abnormal jaw position.

 

As with most oral issues, early recognition and immediate dental care is essential to prevent permanent damage. Unfortunately, it often goes undiagnosed until later in life.

 

Retained deciduous teeth are more common in dogs, though it does occur in cats. It often affects smaller breeds of dog, including the Maltese, Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, and Pomeranian.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

In addition to observing the deciduous (baby) teeth once the permanent teeth begin to erupt, the following signs may occur:

 

• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Abnormally-positioned permanent teeth
• Swollen, red, bleeding gums around baby teeth
• Local gingivitis and periodontal disease due to teeth overcrowding
• A permanent abnormal passageway between the mouth and nasal cavity (oronasal fistula)

 

Causes

 

None identified.

 

Diagnosis

 

Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam and inspect your dog’s mouth.  He or she will chart the teeth present in the mouth to and record the presence of deciduous teeth. X-rays of the inside of the mouth will also be taken to verify which teeth are permanent and which are deciduous, and whether baby teeth have permanent successors ready to replace them.

 

Tooth Luxation or Avulsion in Dogs

 

Tooth luxation is the clinical term for a dislocation of the tooth from its normal spot in the mouth. The mutation can be vertical (downward) or lateral (on either side).

 

In vertical luxation, the tooth may move up (intrusion) or down (extrusion) in its bony socket. In lateral lunation, the tooth tips to the side. Lateral luxation usually occurs due to an injury that has pushed the tip of the tooth to one side. Vertical luxation is related to the dislocation of the root of the tooth. A tooth is called avulsed, meaning that it has been torn suddenly from its spot, if it has been luxated completely from its bony socket.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

In cases of intrusion, the affected tooth appears shorter than normal. In extrusion, the tooth appears longer than normal and can be moved both vertically and horizontally when touched. In case of lateral luxation, the upper part of the tooth is found deviated on the either side. It may be overlapping a nearby tooth to some degree. In cases where there is avulsion of the tooth, the tooth is found to have become completely displaced from its bony socket. This is most often as the result of an injury to the mouth, or to an infection at or near the tooth.

 

Causes

 

• Trauma or injury, such as road side accidents, falls, or fights
• Dogs with chronic tooth infections are at higher risk

 

Diagnosis

 

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents — such as recent injuries — that might have preceded this condition. Your veterinarian will conduct a complete physical examination and will closely look into your dog’s mouth to evaluate the complete set of teeth. The close physical examination will enable your veterinarian to see if the tooth is luxated or avulsed and whether it can be saved. The most important diagnostic test is radiographic imaging of the tooth arcade, i.e., mouth cavity. X-ray films will be placed into the oral cavity to take an X-ray of the affected teeth. Typical changes will enable your veterinarian to precisely diagnose and treat the condition.