IMPORTANCE OF ORAL HEALTH

Dental disease is the number one clinical problem in small animal practices,[1] And thus oral pathology is exceedingly common in small animal patients. In addition, there is a very wide variety of pathologies that are encountered within the oral cavity. These conditions often cause significant pain and/or localised, regional and systemic infection.[2] Since oral health is critical for all other body systems including the other vital assessments (nutrition, pain, etc) it should be evaluated during in every patient every time.[3] [4] [5] [1] Lund EM, Armstrong PJ, Kirk CA, Kolar LM, Cleanser JS. Health status and population characteristics of dogs and cats examined at private veterinary practices in the United States. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1999 May 1;214(9):1336-41. [2] Niemiec BA Oral pathology. Top Companion Anim Med. 2008 May;23(2):59-71. [3]DeBowes LJ, Mosier D, Logan E, et al: Association of periodontal disease and histologic lesions in multiple organs from 45 dogs. J Vet Dent 13(2):57–60, 1996. [4]Pavlica Z, Petelin M, Juntes P, et al: Periodontal disease burden and pathological changes in organs of dogs. J Vet Dent 25(2):97–105, 2008. [5]Boutoille F, et al: Echocardiographic alterations and periodontal disease in dogs: A clinical study [abstract]. Proc ECVD:63–65, 2006.