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Objective: To investigate the mycobiome of the oral cavity in healthy dogs and dogs with various stages of periodontal disease., Animals: 51 dogs without periodontal disease (n = 12) or with mild (10), moderate (19), or severe (10) periodontal disease., Procedures: The whole maxillary arcade of each dog was sampled with a sterile swab, and swabs were submitted for next-generation DNA sequencing targeting the internal transcribed spacer 2 region with a commercial sequencing platform., Results: Fungi were detected in all samples, with a total of 320 fungal species from 135 families detected in the data set. No single fungal species was found in all samples. The 3 most frequently found fungal species were Cladosporium sp (46/51 samples), Malassezia restricta (44/51 samples), and Malassezia arunalokei (36/51 samples). Certain fungi, specifically those of the family Didymellaceae, the family Irpicaceae, and the order Pleosporales, were significantly associated with different stages of periodontitis. Mycobial analysis indicated that Cladosporium sp could be considered part of the core oral cavity mycobiome., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results highlighted that fungi are present in the oral cavity of dogs and are characterized by substantial species diversity, with different fungal communities associated with various stages of periodontal disease. The next-generation DNA sequencing used in the present study revealed substantially more species of fungi than previous culture-based studies.

Objective: To compare the bacteriome of the oral cavity in healthy dogs and dogs with various stages of periodontal disease., Animals: Dogs without periodontal disease (n = 12) or with mild (10), moderate (19), or severe (10) periodontal disease., Procedures: The maxillary arcade of each dog was sampled with a sterile swab, and swabs were submitted for next-generation DNA sequencing targeting the V1-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene., Results: 714 bacterial species from 177 families were identified. The 3 most frequently found bacterial species were Actinomyces sp (48/51 samples), Porphyromonas cangingivalis (47/51 samples), and a Campylobacter sp (48/51 samples). The most abundant species were P cangingivalis, Porphyromonas gulae, and an undefined Porphyromonas sp. Porphyromonas cangingivalis and Campylobacter sp were part of the core microbiome shared among the 4 groups, and P gulae, which was significantly enriched in dogs with severe periodontal disease, was part of the core microbiome shared between all groups except dogs without periodontal disease. Christensenellaceae sp, Bacteroidales sp, Family XIII sp, Methanobrevibacter oralis, Peptostreptococcus canis, and Tannerella sp formed a unique core microbiome in dogs with severe periodontal disease., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results highlighted that in dogs, potential pathogens can be common members of the oral cavity bacteriome in the absence of disease, and changes in the relative abundance of certain members of the bacteriome can be associated with severity of periodontal disease. Future studies may aim to determine whether these changes are the cause or result of periodontal disease or the host immune response.

Veterinary dentistry is constantly progressing. The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for the practice of companion animal dentistry for the veterinary profession. Dental care is necessary to provide optimum health and optimize quality of life. Untreated diseases of the oral cavity are painful and can contribute to local and systemic diseases. This article includes guidelines for preventive oral health care, client communication, evaluation, dental cleaning, and treatment. In addition, materials and equipment necessary to perform a medically appropriate procedure are described.

Endodontic disease is a highly prevalent (>10% of all dogs) and insidiously painful process that can have significant local and systemic effects. The root canal system is a delicate organ and is prone to inflammation, infection, and partial and complete necrosis. Vital pulp therapy must be performed quickly, gently, and meticulously if it is to be effective. The relatively high rate of failure in direct pulp capping makes regular follow-up radiographs of critical importance to ensure patient health. Once a tooth is dead, there are often no obvious clinical signs; therefore, clinicians must be educated in the diagnosis of the disease processes. Once properly educated, the practitioner must remain vigilant for subtle signs of the disease process. Standard root canal therapy is an effective method of removing the inflammation, infection, and associated discomfort of the endodontically diseased tooth while maintaining its function. Endodontic failure most likely remains hidden unless dental radiology is used. Follow-up radiographs at regular intervals throughout the patient's life are critical for ensuring the long-term success of any endodontic therapy.

A two-year-old spayed/female Miniature Pinscher was treated for mobility of the left and right mandibular first molar teeth. Periodontal probing and intraoral dental radiographs indicated severe periodontal attachment loss. It was determined that both teeth had endodontic-periodontal lesions based on restoration of periodontal attachment and partial resolution of radiolucent periapical lesions following treatment which emphasized endodontic therapy.