Animal Health Solutions

16 Covetrus | ph: 855.724.3461 | fx: 888.329.3861 | northamerica.covetrus.com The complexity of pathways involved in the host response drives differences in the clinical manifestation and disease progression. This will result in requiring different therapeutic approaches. An important challenge is for the practitioner to understand the different roles of inflammation mediators, their cellular source, their site of action and how to control them. Blocking the activity of proinflammatory cytokines looks to be a promising therapeutic modality for periodontitis. A consequence of the periodontal inflammatory process is ulceration of the gingival sulcular epithelium allowing bacterial translocation from the sulcus into the blood stream. The surface area of the periodontal ligament area has been calculated to cover about 75 square centimeters (an animal with 50% bone loss from periodontal disease would have a wound surface area of about 37 square centimeters). Considering many animals go a long time without having gingivitis About the author Dr. James Anthony has been involved in veterinary medicine for over 30 years. Dr. Anthony is one of the most respected veterinary dental specialists in the world. Dr. Anthony currently consults with various veterinary practices and assists them in implementing oral health programs. He also lectures internationally on veterinary dentistry and various dental-related topics. treated, this chronic inflammatory condition may promote continuous, low grade chronic bacteremia and increasing the systemic levels of proinflammatory mediators which may result in initiation or progression of systemic disease. Oral bacteria and gingival inflammation theoretically can influence systemic health through four pathways: bacteremia, systemic dissemination of periodontal inflammatory mediators, activation of an autoimmune response and aspiration or ingestion of oral contents into the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems. The relationship between periodontal inflammatory disease and systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, dementia, and adverse pregnancy outcomes (premature parturition) has been closely investigated in humans. The basis of this biological mechanism of this relationship is emerging and future study may lead to a better understanding of this association. Advances in treatment must address specific bacteriological factors, the host response and the systemic progression of disease. These therapies that are mentioned are very promising and may provide the next wave of disease-specific chemotherapeutics to manage chronic periodontal disease.

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