Cause

• Particles become trapped in the teeth anytime a dog eats.Dog with Treat image by T^i^ from Fotolia.com
  
  Every time the dog eats, food particles become trapped along the gumline and between the teeth. These food particles attract bacteria, which hardens and turns into plaque. Over time, the plaque mixes with saliva and minerals to form calculus, which appears as a hard, yellow crust along the upper portion of the teeth. The calculus irritates the gums, causing gingivitis. If the gingivitis is left untreated, the inflammation progresses further and becomes periodontal disease.
  
  

Symptoms

• Stage-one periodontal disease shows inflammation along the gumline.Berner-senner image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com
  
  Periodontal disease is graded according to symptom severity. Stage one is the transition phase from gingivitis to periodontal disease, where the only symptom may be a red line of irritation along the gums. Stage two includes more advanced inflammation, as well as gums that bleed when probed. By stage three, the gums are severely inflamed and swollen, a pustular discharge may be present and bone loss begins to occur. Stage-four periodontal disease is characterized by a worsening of all symptoms as well as tooth mobility. Bone loss by this stage can be quite severe.
  
  

Diagnosis

• Various tools are used to gauge the extent of gum recession.Stock pictures of metal dental instruments image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
  
  Comprehensive dental examinations require anesthesia because most dogs will not sit patiently while the vet digs around in their mouth. A vet tech will clean the teeth with an ultrasonic dental scaler that will remove plaque and calculus to allow the vet to better asses the condition of the gums. The vet will probe each tooth to measure how far the gum has receded, and will grade the disease according to his findings. Because 60 percent of periodontal disease occurs beyond the gumline, X-rays are valuable in determining the extent of bone loss and root decay.
  
  

Treatment

• A week or so of antibiotics will kill any existing infection in the mouth.medicine image by Pali A from Fotolia.com
  
  While the dog is sedated, the vet may remove any teeth that are loose or have decayed roots, and apply a medicated gel deep inside the gums. If bone loss has occurred, certain sections of the gum may need to be surgically repositioned to stabilize the tooth, and in very severe cases, a bone replacement procedure may be required to save the teeth. After the procedure, the dog will receive an antibiotic injection as well as a week or 10 days' worth of oral antibiotics to take home.
  
  

Prevention

• Daily brushing and yearly dental cleanings will keep your dog's teeth looking their best.dog with tongue out blue weimaraner grey image by Paul Retherford from Fotolia.com
  
  The best prevention is frequent brushing of the teeth. Most pet supply stores sell soft toothbrushes designed especially to clean underneath the gumline, as well as toothpaste in flavors dogs like. Daily brushing is best but can be impractical. For brushing to be an effective preventive, it must be done at least weekly. Additionally, a yearly dental scaling and polishing by a vet will keep plaque under control and allow problems to be caught and treated before they develop into serious problems.