Periodontal Disease in Dogs From Mexico: Description of Most Commonly Affected Teeth and Associated Factors

Abstract

With the objective to evaluate the prevalence of periodontal disease (PD) and monitor the most affected teeth in dogs under the subtropical conditions in Mexico, 184 randomly selected dogs underwent a periodontal examination. Of the evaluated dogs, 78.8% showed some degree of gingivitis most of them (76.6%) with a moderate index, and 30.4% presented some degree of PD being most of them of a mild degree. Old age and small size dogs were more prone to develop PD as reported elsewhere. Higher mobility index and furcation were seen in maxillary teeth 108 and 208 and mandibular teeth 308 and 408, but some other teeth were involved in less proportion. On probing, bleeding was observed in maxillary teeth 202, 11, 102, and 202 and mandibular teeth 309 and 409. Dental plaque and calculus were more frequent in maxillary teeth 202 and 102 and mandibular teeth 309, 310, and 409. Finally, dental loss was observed with more frequency in all maxillary incisors (102, 201, and 202) and molars 109 and 209; mandibular molars 411 and 311 were more prompt to be losed. This study demonstrates the high prevalence of gingivitis and development of PD in dogs in subtropics in Mexico and reveals the predisposition of some maxillary and mandibular teeth to develop PD and consequently their loss. The clinical implications of the study indicate that special attention should be paid to these teeth to be checked when the dogs come for consultation, during brushing and in dental prophylaxis.

Figure 1

An example of furcation exposure in mandibular molars. Arrows show the normal furcation exposure.

Figure 2

Heat map of dental bleeding from 184 evaluated dogs.

Figure 3

Heat map of dental plaque from 184 evaluated dogs.

Figure 4

(a) The presence of dental calculus in the upper incisors and canines. (b) The heat map of dental calculus from 184 evaluated dogs.

Figure 5

Heat map of dental losses from 184 evaluated dogs.