If dogs and cats have good personality, simple oral examination can be carried out before anesthesia, such as checking the dental calculus level and roughly checking the health of teeth. After anesthesia is stable, each tooth and surrounding tissues should be examined one by one. Dental probes are used to examine periodontal pockets. It is normal for dogs to be less than 3mm and cats to be less than1mm. Once the depth exceeds the normal value, it is periodontal disease. The condition of each tooth should be recorded.
The probe handle can be used to check tooth looseness and gum health;
The gingivitis index is scored from 0 to 3, with 0 being healthy gums; 1 is mild inflammation with swollen gums and red edges; 2 is moderate inflammation, which will bleed when probed with a probe; 3 is severe inflammation, and it will bleed when touched slightly.
If dogs and cats suffer from severe periodontal disease and extensive bone resorption is suspected after treatment, X-ray diagnosis should be made.