What is it about?
Caries can be difficult to diagnose in their early stages, often going undetected until patients are brought in for dental treatment under general anaesthesia and assessment of the oral cavity is performed. This late detection happens because bacteria infiltrate into the dentine, creating the perfect climate for dentine destruction from within the tooth before any involvement of the enamel is seen. This article will demonstrate how bacteria infiltrate within the oral cavity, and discuss key client communication and education along with outlining preventative oral hygiene measures to prevent caries formation including diet and daily toothbrushing. As always, prevention is better than cure and veterinary nurses are fundamental in the prevention of oral pathologies caused by bacteria.
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Why is it important?
Giving insight into the phenomenon of caries and the work we can do in practice to aid in the prevention of this disease process and how veterinary nurses play their part.
Perspectives
Writing this article brought insight into the disease process of caries, and whilst they are rarely diagnosed it is still a very important aspect of veterinary dentistry. Sourcing the materials to be able to write this article led me on many rabbit holes of really useful and insightful information which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Sarah Ramsden
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Causes and prevention of caries (cavities) in dogs, The Veterinary Nurse, April 2023, Mark Allen Group,
DOI: 10.12968/vetn.2023.14.3.130.
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