Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dentinal damage found in dogs' teeth with dental calculus
By Assunção, Gabriela S M et al.·Published in Journal of comparative pathology·2021·Laborató, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Dentinal Lesions in Dogs with Dental Calculus.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with dental calculus (tartar buildup) had teeth surgically extracted to examine any damage to the tooth structure. Out of 158 teeth from 74 dogs, 71 showed signs of dentinal changes, such as cavities and degeneration, particularly in the incisors and molars. Canine teeth were less affected than other types. The study found that the presence of dental calculus did not influence the type or frequency of these changes. This highlights the importance of regular dental care to prevent serious tooth issues in dogs.
People also search for: dog dental calculus treatment · signs of tooth decay in dogs · how to prevent dog dental problems
Abstract
Histopathological changes in tooth structures in dogs with calculus have not been described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of various histopathological changes in the dentine of teeth that had been surgically extracted from dogs with calculus. Data including breed, sex, age, reason for tooth extraction and dental history were obtained for each animal. A total of 158 teeth (45 incisors, 31 canines, 35 premolars and 47 molars) with calculus were extracted from 74 dogs of various ages and breeds. The teeth were decalcified, processed in paraffin wax and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histopathological analysis. Of the 158 analysed teeth, 71 had dentinal changes, including 45 with external resorption cavities, 11 with osteodentine, six with internal resorption cavities, four with tertiary dentine, four with dentinal degeneration or fragmentation, and one with predentine degeneration or fragmentation. Canine teeth were the least commonly affected. Areas of dentinal degeneration or fragmentation unrelated to resorption cavities were only seen in the incisor and molar teeth. Dentinal changes and their frequencies were similar among the incisor, premolar and molar teeth. The presence or extension of dental calculus was not associated with the type or frequency of dentinal changes.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34119235/