Healthy Teeth, Healthy Pet: Know Your Teeth

Top: Proper dental care is essential for an animal’s health. Just like humans, pets can benefit from professional dental cleanings (under anesthesia) and toothbrushing. Here we see the anatomy of a healthy set of dog teeth, showing the root, crown, pulp, gingiva, dentin, and enamel.

Bottom: The state of a pet’s teeth is a good indicator of her oral health, but hidden problems may lie beneath. Periodontal disease, tooth fractures, and other conditions such as those shown here can be very painful and can lead to larger health issues such as inflammation, infection, bone loss, and even heart disease if bacteria enter the bloodstream.