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You likely know the statistics around Periodontal Disease – it is the most common disease in cats and dogs (1); that 70% of cats and 80% of dogs by age two are affected by some form (2) with more recent studies reporting the prevalence is closer to 90% of all patients (3); with small breed dogs particularly susceptible (4), and increases with age (5) and progresses faster (6).
Typically, treatment comes very late due to its lack of clear outward clinical signs, the client’s perception that oral health is equated to an ability to eat, and a reactive approach to oral healthcare.
Proper therapy for periodontal disease consists of the professional dental cleaning, periodontal surgery and/or extractions, and home care. It has long been documented that the mechanical removal and disruption of plaque biofilm professionally and through toothbrushing is necessary to treat and prevent periodontal disease (7).
Homecare remains an essential component of effective management and treatment of periodontal disease because without it gingival infection and inflammation quickly recur. A human study found that professional dental cleanings are of little value without home care (8). The goal of homecare is to limit or reduce the amount of plaque on the teeth through a combination of both active and passive homecare methods. Active homecare relies on the client actively participating in removing plaque through brushing or applying antiseptic/antiplaque solutions. Passive homecare is often a popular alternative for clients with greater compliance through the use of dental diets, chews and water additives.
As veterinary health professionals we should not accept that it is inevitable that our patients will suffer from periodontal infections, pain, inflammation, and the loss of teeth as they age, or suffer the associated local and systemic effects. Rather, that the expectation be that good oral health requires lifelong management (as it does in humans) with the implementation of oral health wellness programs that are aimed at:
Early recognition and intervention are key to successful treatment of periodontal disease with a more proactive approach based on identifying those patients at highest risk of developing periodontal disease, and intervening at an early age with a client-focused educational program and homecare routine aimed at plaque control, giving that patient the best outcome for life.
Unlike other ultrasonic tooth scalers that use a “jack hammer” approach to tooth scaling, the iM3 42–12 adopts a more gentle technique with its revolutionary rotational tip movement and ultrasonic removal of the plaque and calculus on all tooth surfaces, while being safe to use in periodontal pockets up to 13 mm deep.
The 42-12 achieves a highly polished finish on the tooth with less enamel damage by using an exceptionally high ultrasonic frequency of 42,000Hz, coupled with extremely low amplitude of the titanium scaler tip’s circular movement of 0.02 mm.
A survey of 4,737 AAHA Members in the USA – of which 667 responded, completing a comparison of the 5 major ultrasonic dental scalers in 15 categories – iM3 came in first in every category, scoring a 90% overall satisfaction. (TRENDS MAGAZINE 1st Jul 2022)
The Universal scaling tip is designed for supra and sub-gingival scaling.
The Perio scaling tip is designed for supra and sub-gingival scaling. The extra length is ideal for deep pockets.
The Thinline straight tip designed for fine scaling or debridement after gross scaling and is ideal for felines and small mouths.
With the capacity to hold up to 3 tips at once, this holder is the ideal storage option for any veterinary dentist looking to streamline their workspace.
Visit the iM3 website for more information, or contact us here.
Fernandes, N. (2012). Prevalance of periodontal disease in dogs and owners’ level of awareness – a prospective clinical trial. Revista Ceres, 59, 446-451.
Hoffmann, T. (1996). Clinical and pathomorphological investigation of spontaneously occurring periodontal disease in dogs. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 37, 471-479.
I. Needleman, J. S. (2005). A systematic review of professional mechanical plaque removal for prevention of periodontal diseases. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 229-282.
Lobprise, H. (2019). Wiggs’ Veterinary Dentistry (2nd Ed). Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA: Wiley Blackwell.
Lund, E. (1999). Health Status and population characteristics of dogs and cats examined at private veterinary practices in the United States. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 214, 1336-1341.
Marshall, M. (2014). A longitudinal assessment of periodontal disease in 52 Minature Schnauzers. BMC Veterinary Research, 10, 166.
Niemiec, B. (2020). World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Dental Guidelines. Journal Small Animal Practice, 61(7), E36-E161.
Queck, K. (2018). Oral Fluid Thiol Detection Test identifies underlying active periodontal disease not detected by the visual awake examination. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 54, 132-137.
Stella, J. (2018). A cross-sectional study to estimate prevalence of periodontal disease in a population of dogs (Canis familiaris) in commercial breeding facilities in Indiana and Illinois. PLos One, 13, e0191395.
For over 15 years Maggie has worked in small animal general practice and we’re sure she’s a familiar face to many in the industry. Her passion for dentistry led to her obtaining the Diploma of Veterinary Nursing (Dental) and the Veterinary Technician Specialty VTS (Dentistry). Maggie has experience in General Practice Dentistry as well as in Specialty practice having conducted nurse dental clinics and assisting in both general and advanced specialty procedures. As an experienced and qualified trainer, Maggie has provided training in dentistry to veterinary teams both domestically and internationally and brings her contagious passion for dentistry to her role at iM3 in providing training and support to our clients.
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