Dental disease is the most common health problem in companion animals, affecting 80% of dogs and cats over age three, and is severely undertreated.
Animals cannot tell us their teeth hurt. They continue eating despite severe dental pain, which owners interpret as absence of a problem. Tooth root abscesses, resorptive lesions, and severe periodontal disease cause chronic pain that measurably reduces activity and quality of life. Many pets live for years with painful dental conditions that owners and even vets do not prioritize. Annual dental assessments and professional cleaning are the standard of care that most pets do not receive.