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Periodontal Disease

Still the most common infectious disease of dogs and cats in the world, with over 70% of cats and dogs over three years old suffering from this problem. It is a huge problem for veterinary surgeons. According to many surveys, less than 10% of actual periodontal cases are recognised and treated in practice.

New therapies make management of severe pockets a realistic option in some cases. Pocket management can save many teeth. In this field there are many traditional products, such as Gore-Tex™, that have been used in guided tissue regeneration for a decade or more. There are other products that are making their mark here. – BioGlass™ (Consil: Vetoquinol), Periochip™ and Doxirobe™ (Pfizer). Teeth that had previously few treatment options now have much better chances of being saved – including multi-rooted teeth.

Splinting of teeth with, or without, root planing via full thickness mucogingival flaps saves many otherwise excessively mobile incisors.

Vaccination for Periodontal Disease

In 2005 a periodontal disease vaccine is anticipated from Pfizer. This will be a triple valent vaccine made from the of the most commonest periodontal pathogens - Porphyromonas gulae, salivosa and denticanis. This is an exciting development which will give the veterinary surgeon and additional tool in the management of this chrnically debilitating disease.