Dental caries in the dog.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Dentistry
• Comparative Dental Pathology

Background:

• Dental caries is a significant concern in companion animals, yet data on its prevalence and treatment outcomes in dogs is limited.
• Understanding the types and locations of caries lesions is crucial for effective dental management in dogs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and types of dental caries in dogs presenting to a dental referral practice.
• To evaluate the outcomes of various dental treatments for caries lesions in dogs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of dental records from 435 dogs.
• Analysis of caries lesion types (pit and fissure, smooth surface, root), affected teeth, and symmetry.
• Assessment of treatment success for extracted teeth and restored lesions (composite or glass ionomer).

Main Results:

• Caries were identified in 5.3% of dogs (23 out of 435).
• Pit and fissure caries were most common (40%), followed by smooth surface (36%) and root caries (23%).
• Fourth premolars and molar teeth were most frequently affected; 10 restorations were intact one year post-treatment with no caries progression.

Conclusions:

• Dental caries occurs in a notable percentage of dogs seeking specialized dental care.
• Surgical extraction and restorative procedures using composite or glass ionomer materials are effective in managing canine dental caries.
• Long-term follow-up indicates the durability and success of restorative treatments for canine caries.