Clinical and radiographic evaluation of periodontal tissues in dogs with periodontal disease

The presented study aimed to clinically and radiographically evaluate periodontal disease diagnosed in dogs through findings such as discoloration of the gums, loss of contour integrity/continuity, bleeding upon probing or palpation (gingivitis), and progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone, formation of pathological periodontal pockets, changes in the radiodensity and integrity of the alveolar bone, and gingival recession (chronic periodontitis). The study included 40 dogs as its material. Anamnesis information was gathered regarding the breed, age, sex, ownership status, feeding habits, and weights of the dogs included in the study. Radiographs of the maxillary and mandibular teeth of each dog under anesthesia were taken, and the stages of periodontal disease were evaluated and recorded for each affected tooth. In the maxillary and mandibular right and left quadrants, 351 out of 749 teeth were identified with stage 1 periodontal disease, 314 with stage 2, 64 with stage 3, and 20 with stage 4. The deepest periodontal pocket was measured on tooth number 108 in the maxillary right quadrant, with a maximum depth of 10 mm recorded on one tooth. The most affected teeth were identified as the right P3 (107, three teeth) and left P2 (206, three teeth). The study found that the prevalence of the disease increased with age (75% in adult dogs, 17,5% in geriatric dogs) and that the buccal surfaces of the teeth were most commonly affected. When assessing the clinical and radiographic severity of periodontal disease, it was concluded that symptoms such as gum bleeding, bad breath, and mild sensitivity are often overlooked. Additionally, it was observed that the prevalence of the disease increased with factors such as irregular dental cleaning, consumption of soft food, and advancing age.