Gingival health and frequency of tooth brushing in the beagle dog model

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to study clinical parameters when 3 different frequencies of plaque removal were applied to healthy gingivae in the beagle dog model. The maxillary first, second and third premolars of 12 beagle dogs, at the start of the experiment 2 years of age, were, after a thorough cleaning, submitted to daily plaque removal during a pre-experimental period of 8 weeks. At the start of the experiment, the dogs were distributed into 3 groups of 4 dogs each: one group was brushed 7 times a week, a second group was brushed 3 times a week and another group was brushed only once a week. Brushing was executed over a period of 24 weeks, on the right sides of the upper jaws. The left upper jaws served as controls. At regular intervals, the plaque index, the gingival index and probing depths were assessed. A "brushing effect" was calculated for each dog, to include information on all within-dog and between dog variations. Comparison of brushing effects revealed that in this experimental model, plaque removal with a frequency of 3 times a week was sufficient to preserve gingival health, whereas tooth brushing once a week resulted in gingival inflammation. Therefore it can be concluded that 3 times a week is the critical brushing frequency in the beagle dog model with healthy gingiva at baseline.

Effect of Frequency of Brushing Teeth on Plaque and Calculus Accumulation, and Gingivitis in Dogs

“…The present study showed that there is a relationship between frequency of brushing and efficacy of brushing in the rate of accumulation of dental plaque and calculus in dogs when a standard brushing protocol is used. 3 In the dogs with gingivitis (following professional cleaning, 8-weeks of daily brushing, then no oral hygiene provided for a 4-week period prior to the start of the brushing trial), daily brushing was required to return to, and maintain the gingiva in a healthy state over a 24-week period. Brushing EOD did not maintain clinically healthy gingiva in dogs.…”

“…Recognizing that many dog owners would prefer not to have to brush their dog's teeth, this study was performed to determine the optimal frequency of brushing. 3 Brushing EOD in a separate study was insufficient to maintain healthy gingiva. 1 In another study, conducted in dogs with gingivitis, daily brushing was required to return to and maintain gingival health.…”

Artificial periodontal defects and frequency of tooth brushing in beagle dogs

“…It is of value to distinguish, apart from gingival health, between 3 different experimental disease entities in animals namely: experimental gingivitis, artificial periodontal defects immediately after creation, and stable artificial periodontal defects after a period of healing (Jansen 1982), In a previous article (Corba et al,-1986), the influence of plaque removal on artificial periodontal defects immediately after creation in beagle dogs was investigated. The results showed that in such a situation, brushing, 7 times a week was necessary to establish gingival health, Tromp et al, (1986) did a comparable experiment testing different frequencies of plaque removal on healthy gingivae in beagle dogs. The results indicated that in such a situation, brushing 3 times a week was sufficient to maintain gingival health.…”

Maladies parodontales chez le chien : facteurs de risque et approches thérapeutiques

“…Il a été montré qu'il faut au moins effectuer un brossage trois fois par semaine pour maintenir des gencives saines chez un chien jeune mais qu'une fré-quence d'une fois par semaine ne le permet pas (Tromp et al, 1986a). Cependant, lorsqu'une gingivite est déjà installée, seul un brossage quotidien peut permettre de rétablir des gencives saines (Tromp et al, 1986b).…”