Clinical and thermographic evaluation of susceptibility to periodontal disease in non-brachiocephalic DOGS

In this study, gingival inflammation and oral hygiene degree of dogs were determined according to Gingival Index (GI), Papillary Bleeding Index (PBI) and Plaque Index (PI). Between these index grades, it was aimed to compare the temperatures of different anatomical regions of the gingiva, measured with a thermal camera. The material of the study consisted of 140 non-brachiocephalic dogs over the age of 2 years, who were brought to Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Hospital Surgery Clinic and did not have periodontal destruction in their gingiva. Dogs with a body weight up to 25 kg were Group 1 and those with a body weight over 25 kg were Group 2. The dogs brought to the clinic were allowed to rest in the examination room for 30 minutes. Before being anesthetized, the dogs' lips were lifted to make their gums visible, and the first thermograms were taken with a thermal camera. After the first procedure, the dogs were intubated and put under inhalation anesthesia in the anesthesia device. By lifting the lips of the dogs, the gums were made visible, and first, thermograms of the right maxillary and mandibular half were taken with the help of a thermal camera from a distance of 20 cm. The same procedure was repeated in the left maxillary and mandibular half. Then, all gingival hyperemia, edema, bleeding and plaque density were recorded according to the index systems and the dogs were discharged. From the obtained thermograms, the temperatures of three different anatomical regions of the gingiva of each tooth of the dogs: free gingiva (FG), attached gingiva (AG) and alveolar mucosa (AM) were recorded. Recorded temperatures were classified separately according to three different index systems used. There was no significant difference between the gingival temperatures of the Group 1 and Group 2 dogs according to GI and PBI. For this reason, no group distinction was made in gingival temperatures graded according to GI and PBI. The temperature of the non-bleeding gums was higher than the temperature of the bleeding gums. The temperature difference was 0.27°C in FG (p<0.01), 0.24°C in AG (p<0.01) and 0.26°C in AM (p<0.01). Plaque density was not found to be effective in determining gingival inflammation. In addition, no significant correlation was found between temperature and PCI grades. The maxillary FG temperature of healthy dogs was 36.25±1.43°C, BG temperature was 36.81±1.37°C, and AM temperature was 37.53±1.30°C. It was determined that the mandibular SG temperature of healthy dogs was 35.46±1.42°C, BG temperature was 36.26±1.35°C, and AM temperature was 37.01±1.22°C. It was determined that the maxillary gums had a higher temperature than the mandibular gums (p= .000). Evaluation of temperature data obtained without intubation in the oral cavity resulted in erroneous results. It was predicted that the thermal camera may have important contributions to diagnosis of gum diseases in dogs.