Introduction

• Cause: mineralized bacterial plaque deposits; predisposed by the soft nature of convenience diets; periodontal disease follows if deposits are left.
• Signs: halitosis; visible deposits on teeth.
• Diagnosis: halitosis; visible deposits on teeth.
• Treatment: scaling/polishing.
• Prevention: dietary changes/teeth cleaning.
  Follow the diagnostic tree for Halitosis Halitosis.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Mineralization of plaque deposits takes place through calcium and phosphorus salts present in saliva.

Specific

• Feeding of convenience pet foods which have little self-cleansing action.

Pathophysiology

• Dental plaque mineralizes to form dental calculus.

• Convenience diets (require little mastication, sticky in nature, lack fiber) contribute to build-up of debris on surfaces of teeth.
• Canned food leads to calculus faster than dry food.
• Dry food has a better self-cleansing action.
• Dry food may stimulate more salivary flow which decreases the rate of plaque formation.
• Food debris, leucocytes, micro-organisms and desquamated epithelial cells → dental/bacterial plaque.
• Bacteria will invade and proliferate within matrix of plaque.
• Mineralized plaque through phosphorus and calcium salts in saliva → dental calculus.
• Rough surface of calculus encourages further build-up of plaque.
• Periodontal disease Periodontal disease will develop if calculus not removed.

Timecourse

• Plaques becomes established within 24 hours.
• Early calculus deposition is often visible within months of eruption of permanent teeth.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Outcomes