Epidemiological characteristics of dogs with dental calculus: 392 cases (2012-2020)

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Abstract

Dental calculus is a local irritant to adjacent soft tissues, causing an inflammatory response that contributes to the development of periodontal diseases. Mineralized plaque contains bacterial toxins, which can lead to systemic infections. A retrospective analysis of the oral cavity condition of 392 dogs with dental calculus admitted for a comprehensive dental examination and oral sanitation to the Dentalvet veterinary center in 2012-2020 was conducted. An analysis of epidemiological data was performed to determine the risk factors for dental calculus formation. The study showed that small breed dogs aged 1 to 5 years were included in highrisk group for periodontal diseases. Tables with data on dental plaque and calculus indices, age characteristics of dogs, number of dog groups by skull type and breed, photographs and intraoral X-rays were provided.

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Table 1
Dental plaque index in dogs

 Index

 Dental plaque (area on tooth surface), %

 0

 No

 1

 1…24

 2

 25…49

 3

 50…74

 4

 75…100

 Source: Spirina AS, Spirina OA, Ermakov AM. Sanatsiya rotovoi polosti u sobak. Zapolnenie stomatologicheskoi karty [Oral cavity sanitation in dogs. Filling out a dental card].  Rostov-on-­Don; 2023.

 Fig. 1. Healthy gums and clean tooth (204 tooth)
 Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

 Fig. 2. Dental plaque — index 2 (208 tooth).
 Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

 Fig. 3. Dental plaque — index 2 (108,104,404 teeth)
 Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

Table 2
Dental calculus index

 Index

 Dental calculus (area of tooth surface affected), %

 0

 No

 1

 1…24

 2

 25…49

 3

 50…74

Source: Spirina AS, Spirina OA, Ermakov AM. Sanatsiya rotovoi polosti u sobak. Zapolnenie stomatologicheskoi karty [Oral cavity sanitation in dogs. Filling out a dental card]. Rostov-on-­Don; 2023.

 

 Fig. 4. Dental calculus stage 1  (109, 108, 104)
 Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

 Fig. 5. Intraoral radiograph for stage 1 dental calculus
 Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

 Fig. 6. Dental calculus: a — stage 1 (409 tooth) and stage 3 (404 tooth); б — stage 2 (409–405 teeth); в and г — intraoral radiograph for stage 2 dental calculus.
 Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

 Fig. 7. Dental calculus stage 2: а — 109–106 teeth; б — Intraoral radiograph for stage 2 dental calculus
 Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

 Fig. 8. Dental calculus stage 3: а — quadrant 100; б and в — Intraoral radiograph  for stage 3 dental calculus
 Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

 Fig. 9. Dental calculus stage 4 (а, б) and Intraoral radiograph for stage 4 dental calculus (в, г)
 Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

 

Fig. 10. Age characteristics of dogs with dental calculus by groups (n = 392)
Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

Table 3
Animal groups by skull type

 Skull type

 Number of animals (n = 392)

 Proportion of all admitted animals, % (n = 392)

 Brachycephalians

 16

 4.1

 Mesocephalians

 356

 90.8

 Dolichocephalians

 20

 5.1

Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

 

Fig. 11. The prevalence of dental calculus in dogs of various breeds (392 animals)
 Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

×

About the authors

Anna S. Spirina

Don State Technical University; Dentalvet Educational and Veterinary Center

Author for correspondence.
Email: SpirinaAnnaS@yandex.ru
SPIN-code: 3535-8732
Candidate of Veterinary Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Don State Technical University; Senior Lecturer, Dentalvet Educational and Veterinary Center 1 Gagarin sq., Rostov-on-Don, 344010, Russian Federation; 2/1 Aviakonstruktora Milya st., Moscow, 109431, Russian Federation

Olga A. Spirina

Dentalvet Educational and Veterinary Center; ROSBIOTECH

Email: spirinaoa@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3160-8062
SPIN-code: 7457-6591

Senior Lecturer, Dentalvet Educational and Veterinary Center; postgraduate student, Russian Biotechnological University (ROSBIOTECH)

2/1 Aviakonstruktora Milya st., Moscow, 109431, Russian Federation;11 Volokolamskoe highway, Moscow, 125080, Russian Federation

Vladislav S. Bychkov

Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy

Email: vlad91bd@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1548-9999
SPIN-code: 1529-7483

Candidate of Veterinary Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine

49 Timiryazevskaya st., Moscow, 127434, Russian Federation

Aleksey M. Ermakov

Don State Technical University

Email: amermakov@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9834-3989
SPIN-code: 5358-3424

Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Biology and General Pathology

1 Gagarin sq., Rostov-on-Don, 344010, Russian Federation

References

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Supplementary files

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1. Fig. 1. Healthy gums and clean tooth (204 tooth)
Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

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2. Fig. 2. Dental plaque — index 2 (208 tooth).
Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

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3. Fig. 3. Dental plaque — index 2 (108,104,404 teeth)
Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

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4. Fig. 4. Dental calculus stage 1 (109, 108, 104)
Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

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5. Fig. 5. Intraoral radiograph for stage 1 dental calculus
Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

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6. Fig. 6. Dental calculus: a — stage 1 (409 tooth) and stage 3 (404 tooth); б — stage 2 (409–405 teeth); в and г — intraoral radiograph for stage 2 dental calculus.
Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

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7. Fig. 7. Dental calculus stage 2: а — 109–106 teeth; б — Intraoral radiograph for stage 2 dental calculus
Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

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8. Fig. 8. Dental calculus stage 3: а — quadrant 100; б and в — Intraoral radiograph for stage 3 dental calculus
Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

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9. Fig. 9. Dental calculus stage 4 (а, б) and Intraoral radiograph for stage 4 dental calculus (в, г)
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10. Fig. 10. Age characteristics of dogs with dental calculus by groups (n = 392)
Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

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11. Fig. 11. The prevalence of dental calculus in dogs of various breeds (392 animals)
Source: VTC "Dentalvet".

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Copyright (c) 2025 Spirina A.S., Spirina O.A., Bychkov V.S., Ermakov A.M.

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