Can dog tooth decay be fixed?

Gingivitis is reversible, because it is only inflammation, and no damage to the supporting bone structures or tooth sockets has occurred. When left untreated for long periods of time, plaque buildup causes gingivitis and eventually leads to tooth decay, bone loss, and deterioration of the jawbone. Periodontal Disease has four stages, but it is only reversible when it's detected during the first stage, gingivitis. If your dog has Stage 2 or Stage 3 periodontal disease, it won't be reversible, but there are steps you can take to prevent its progression. Without daily oral hygiene care, your dog's Stage 1 periodontal disease could easily progress into a later stage, causing tooth decay and tooth loss. In any of the more progressed stages, your dog will likely already be facing bone loss and may need extractions to minimize the chance of further infection and jawbone deterioration. Treating Gingivitis to Reverse Periodontal Disease If your dog shows any signs of periodontal disease, take them to a veterinary dentist for a professional dental cleaning. A professional dental cleaning will include scaling the teeth above and below the gum line to remove plaque and tartar, polishing the teeth, taking full mouth x-rays, and checking around each tooth for abnormal pocketing. After a professional dental cleaning for Stage 1 periodontal disease, no further clinical treatment will be necessary. However, you will need to brush your dog's teeth daily.

Dog gum disease treatment may be that your dog just needs some antibiotics and a programme of teeth brushing for gingivitis, or possibly even a scale and polish with some extractions. But the sooner these problems are addressed the easier it will be to prevent further deterioration. It’s common for owners of older dogs, in particular, to mention that having their dental disease treated has resulted in a new lease of life for their dog. If your vet is concerned about your dog’s teeth and gums, and treatment is required, they may want to place your dog under general anaesthetic. This will allow them to remove any accumulated plaque and tartar and carry out surgery on badly affected teeth, gums, bones and tissue. Afterwards, they may apply antibiotic gel to the gums to help soothe the sore or prescribe oral antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. It’s vitally important gingivitis or gum disease in dogs is treated as early as possible to avoid both irreversible damage and associated health problems. You should contact your vet straight away if your dog or puppy is showing signs of dental disease.

If your dog's cavity has progressed any further than that, the diseased enamel, dentin or pulp will need to be removed and the tooth restored with a filling, root canal or other restorative treatment. If you have caught a cavity just as it was starting to form, your vet may use a fluoride wash or bonding agent to protect the site against further degradation and will monitor it in the future. If the cavity has progressed far enough, the tooth may not be truly treatable and may have to be removed from your dog's mouth to prevent further oral health impacts. Recovery from filling or tooth removal treatments is often quite quick, but you may have to provide specialized after-care to your dog to stop them from harming their mouth or their new filling. The precise treatment for your dog's cavity will depend on its severity.

If you have caught a cavity before it has developed, the veterinarian may use a fluoride varnish or fluoride bonding agent in order to protect the tooth from cavity development. These cases are considered reversible, as the fluoride will encourage remineralization of the tooth until it can restore itself. However, if a cavity or cavities have already formed, the case is considered irreversible, and treatment will depend upon the progression. In the first two stages, the carious dentin and enamel surrounding it will be removed, and the crown will be restored with an amalgam filling. Stage 3 cavities may be endodontic disease, in which a tooth dies as a result of blood being prevented from entering the root canal. This will be treated by a root canal, which involves removal of the diseased pulpal tissue, disinfecting and scrubbing of the root canal, filling of the root canal with inert material and the restoration and sealing of the crown. Stage 4 and 5 cavities will likely necessitate the total removal of the tooth, and a sealant may be used on surrounding teeth in order to ensure further cavities do not form.