Below the Surface of Dental Health

According to the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC), periodontal disease is the most common condition affecting companion animals.¹ It’s also entirely preventable. This reality underscores the urgent need for early detection, stronger client education and more effective communication around dental health.

The following article explores how industry partners can help bridge the dental care gap by supporting veterinary practices with the knowledge, tools and training they need to provide the best possible care and better inform and engage clients.

Disease Prevalence

The oral cavity isn’t just where disease begins – it’s also where it hides, progressing largely unseen.

“The numbers vary, but anywhere from 80% to 85% of adult dogs and cats over 2 years of age already have some degree of periodontal disease,” said Mary Berg, BS, RVT, LATG, VTS (Dentistry). “That’s eight to nine out of every 10 dogs.”

After periodontal disease, tooth fractures are also a common dental condition. In cats, Berg noted that tooth resorption – an equally destructive and painful disease – is also a major concern.

Long-term Health Risks 

Left unchecked, oral health issues like periodontal disease can quietly progress, eventually leading to chronic pain and widespread complications.

“Periodontal disease is basically an infection in the oral cavity,” said Berg. “Every time an affected animal eats or chews or does anything that causes bleeding in the mouth, oral bacteria enter the bloodstream and adversely affect the kidneys, liver and heart. It’s not unusual to see animals with severe periodontal disease develop renal issues along with other systemic problems secondary to periodontal disease.”

With stakes this high for most pets, increased client awareness and early intervention can be key to curbing life-altering complications. “We know from human medicine that people with periodontal disease have a higher risk of diabetes, heart conditions, periodontal pathogens in atheromatous plaques and other conditions,” said Berg. “While we don’t have as many studies in dogs, several show a correlation. We know secondary conditions develop earlier, especially in small breeds with severe periodontal disease.”

Barriers to Care

Despite veterinary awareness of the consequences of dental disease, a significant gap remains between diagnosis and treatment. Many pet owners – and even some veterinary teams – don’t take action until the disease is advanced.

“Many general practitioners lift the pet’s lip and say, ‘Oh, it doesn’t look bad yet,’” said Berg. “But what are we waiting for? We need to be proactive and care for the grade one and two patients, not wait until they’ve reached grades three and four.”

According to Berg, this proactive care begins with a thorough oral exam of every patient, regardless of what the pet presents for. That means looking beyond visible tartar buildup and assessing the soft tissues. “Look at the gingiva to see how red and irritated and swollen it is, because that’s a better indication of disease severity than how much calculus is on the teeth,” she said.

Shifting From Reactive to Preventive Care

Breaking the reactive cycle starts with normalizing routine dental care, including annual cleanings with full-mouth radiographs (i.e., X-rays) – ideally before periodontal disease takes hold. For Berg, client education begins even sooner than that. “Starting at the second or third puppy or kitten visit, I start talking about oral health and how important it is and how to care for it,” she said.

When practices treat dental health as a core part of preventive care, they can catch disease earlier, preserve oral health and reduce long-term costs for clients. This sooner-than-later approach depends on thorough oral exams, intentional education, consistent messaging and diagnostics that reveal hidden problems.

“I can show you image after image of clinically normal-looking teeth that have something going on below the gum line that the animal can’t tell us about,” said Berg. “That’s why radiographs are such a valuable part of every dental procedure.”

Full-mouth dental radiographs provide an unparalleled view of the oral cavity, including not only the tooth roots but also their surrounding structures, supporting more complete care. According to Berg, “Studies from UC Davis show that dental radiographs reveal an additional 23% more pathology in dogs, and 40% in cats, than we would see on an oral exam.” Additionally, dental radiographs aid in surgical planning and confirm successful extraction, providing greater clinical confidence and better outcomes.

Finally, dental radiographs enhance client education and perception of value. When pet owners can see what’s happening below the gumline, they’re more likely to understand the need for treatment and commit to care. That visual proof transforms dentistry from an abstract concept into a tangible health issue they’re eager to act on.

But even the best tools and strategies require training and confidence for the veterinary staff. As Berg cautioned, without support and training, dental radiography equipment can quickly become “the treadmill of the practice” – an investment that collects dust instead of revenue.

Partnering Together for Proactive Care

Industry partners can assume a helpful role in pet dental health by supporting the veterinary team with resources, knowledge and confidence to provide timely, targeted and thorough care.

It Starts With Education

Every team member, from the front desk to the veterinarian, should understand the value of dentistry. Sponsoring training events, guest speakers and dental presentations ensures the entire team understands the importance of routine dental care. This education also equips them with talking points and creates consistent and confident messaging for clients.

The Right Equipment

Help practices choose equipment that fits their workflow and provide guidance on proper use and care to extend longevity. “Not only is simply switching from a universal scaler tip to the periodontal tip better medicine, but it actually speeds up the dental cleaning,” said Berg. “Learning to use scaler tips properly – and when to replace them – helps increase efficiency, reduces anesthesia time and might help you squeeze in one more procedure a day.”

Support Beyond the Sale

Don’t let dental X-ray equipment be relegated to treadmill status. Post-purchase team training ensures your staff feel confident and capable of performing critical diagnostic imaging. “Many companies offer training, but if they don’t, encourage your practices to reach out,” said Berg. “Many VTS (Dentistry) technicians provide in-person training across the country,” she added, explaining that her own company, Beyond The Crown Veterinary Education, “provides in-person training, virtual training and training guides to help teams get up and running. [Without such support] the learning curve is steep and teams stop trying.”

Client Engagement

Support teams with tools and training that build confidence in dental care conversations and treatment plan presentation, such as in-room products or visual aids that teams can use to illustrate dental disease, along with ready-made handouts and at-home care guides that extend education beyond the exam room.

Meaningful Messaging

Encourage practices to treat Dental Health Month as a year-round initiative, not a once-a-year promotion that undercuts the value of care. By routinely pulling back the curtain through open houses, walk-through videos and clear, engaging education, teams can demystify dentistry and reposition it as an essential part of lifelong health – not a one-and-done service. Berg suggests driving home the importance of dental care with something owners are already familiar with. “I always recommend comparing what we do for pets to what happens when the pet owner goes to the dentist, because so much of it is alike,” she said.

Partnering Together for Every Pet, Every Time

Better dental health for pets starts with understanding the risks and realities – and supporting teams with the tools and training to act. Industry partners play a key role in closing the gap between awareness and action, enabling more effective care and better long-term outcomes.

With the right equipment and knowledge, dental procedures become not only more efficient but also more rewarding. “You can call the owner two days after their pet’s dental procedure and hear them say, ‘Oh my gosh, they’re a puppy again,’” said Berg. “Pet owners don’t realize the pain starts gradually; they may not even recognize it until we treat the source.” This is a powerful reminder of how easily dental disease can go unnoticed, and how transformative proactive care can be.

Photo Credit:

istockphoto.com/SeventyFour

Reference:

1. “Primary Care Practice Services,” American Veterinary Dental College. April 24, 2019. Retrieved from: avdc.org/primary-care-practice