location440 Nicholson Rd, Forrestdale WA 6112

Periodontal Disease

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease refers to a disease of the tissues surrounding the teeth (periodontium). It is generally characterised by inflammation and infection of the gingiva (gums) and periodontal ligament as a result of feed packing in between the teeth.

Why does it happen?

Why does it happen?

Feed packing between the teeth is primarily due to the presence of diastemata (gaps between the teeth). Diastemata are either primary (where the teeth are formed that way) or secondary (e.g. due to tooth displacement/rotation, overgrowths, fracture, senility, or peripheral caries.)¹ The food that gets trapped in between the teeth during chewing starts to ferment and attract bacteria, which proliferate and produce destructive enzymes that destroy the periodontal tissue. In an attempt to fight off this infection, the body also sends inflammatory cells to the area, which in turn also release enzymes that destroy bacteria but also damage the surrounding tissues. This destruction breaks down the attachment of the teeth to the bone and creates ‘periodontal pockets’ between the teeth, allowing more feed to then pack into these holes and starting a vicious cycle of progression if not addressed. This destruction of the periodontal tissues is incredibly painful, due to the exposure of sensitive underlying tissues.

What are the treatment options?

What are the treatment options?

Treatment for periodontal disease includes removal of rotten food material from between the teeth, and treatment of the infection and inflammation of the periodontal tissues. Localised packing of antibiotics in each infected gingival sulcus allows a high concentration of effective antibiotics at the source of the infection and gives the inflamed gingiva underneath a chance to heal. A single-dose or multi-day course of systemic anti-inflammatories (such as Flunixin or Phenylbutazone) may be recommended in cases of severe periodontal disease. In cases where the diastemata between teeth are wide enough, polyvinyl siloxane (PVS or human dental impression material) may be placed on top of the antibiotic packing to prevent food from re-entering the sulci while the gingiva underneath heals and fills in the gap. Diastema widening to open the gap and prevent the feed from becoming trapped may also be discussed².

How regularly does my horse require treatment?

How regularly does my horse require treatment?

We recommend treatment every 1-3 months for more severe cases, or 6-monthly visits for milder cases. In many cases, with treatment, the gingival sulci may return to a normal depth (1-4mm), at which point your horse can return to their regular recommended dental schedule.

What can I do at home to help my horse with periodontal disease?

What can I do at home to help my horse with periodontal disease?

We recommend regular flushing of your horse’s mouth with the hose as often as possible to help flush out any food that gets stuck between the teeth. Place the hose up the side of your horse’s mouth (like you would with a wormer), turn it on a medium flow, and allow them to chew on the end of the hose for around 1 minute.

Feed trapped between the teeth causing infection

Close-up view inside a horse’s mouth showing molars with food material lodged between the teeth during a dental examination.

Feed trapped between the teeth causing infection

Antibiotics placed in the gap between the teeth

¹. Kennedy, R. and Dixon, P. (2016). The aetiopathogenesis of equine periodontal disease – a fresh perspective. Equine Veterinary Education, 30(3), pp.161-168.
². Jackson, K., Weber, L. and Tennant, M. (2016). A Retrospective Study of the Effectiveness of Four Different Treatments of Periodontal Disease in Equine Cheek Teeth. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 33(2), pp.83-89.
PERIODONTAL DISEASE INFORMATION SHEET
Equine Dentistry

Equine Dentistry

Routine dental maintenance, including comprehensive examination of all dental and oral tissues as well as a full dental chart with recommendations.

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Lifetime Dental Care

Lifetime Dental Care

Our vets will work with you and your horse on a comprehensive and tailored preventative dental care plan.

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Advanced Dental Procedures

Advanced Dental Procedures

Performing everything from endodontics, restorations, extractions and treating advanced periodontal disease.

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Equine Wellness Services

Equine Wellness Services

These include wellness consultations, vaccinations, microchipping, faecal egg counts (FEC), drenching, blood testing for metabolic disease, radiographs, euthanasia services and lameness work ups.

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In-Clinic Services

In-Clinic Services

Take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities our clinic has to offer. We are equipped with stables and yards with post, rail and mesh fencing and reticulated paddocks for your convenience. Clients can leave their horses for dental treatments, or stay and watch.

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Mobile Services

Mobile Services

While we pride ourselves on our industry-leading clinic, we also bring premium care directly to your property when needed. Our mobile units are fully equipped to bring the same quality of care wherever you are.

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FAQs

Where in Perth is Dental Vet located?

Dental Vet is based at 440 Nicholson Road, Forrestdale WA, just south of Perth. Our purpose-built equine dental clinic provides a calm, safe space for routine and advanced dental procedures. As fully qualified veterinarians, we can also provide our patients with a range of wellness services for your convenience.

The clinic is just off Armadale Road. It’s also worth noting that there are two driveways onto the property. The first driveway when heading south down Nicholson Road, which usually has a Dental Vet sign out the front, is the driveway to access the clinic. Look for the big grey gates and push the button to open them.

Does Dental Vet offer a mobile service?

While we love welcoming clients to our state-of-the-art clinic, we also understand that sometimes on-farm consultations and treatments are preferred for your convenience.

Our fully equipped mobile service is available throughout Perth’s south-east corridor and nearby regions, including Perth, Armadale, Byford, Oakford, and Serpentine. However we can travel as far south as Harvey, east to Toodyay or north to Lower Chittering, typically anywhere around 100km of the Forrestdale clinic.

If you’re unsure whether we can visit your area, get in touch and we’ll be happy to confirm.

What does Dental Vet do?

We’re Western Australia’s only dedicated equine dental veterinary clinic, offering both comprehensive routine and advanced equine dentistry. Our services include dental examinations, floating, extractions, fillings, root canal therapy, periodontal therapy, and oral X-rays.

As part of your appointment, we offer a variety of wellness services for your convenience. Our veterinarians can perform vaccinations, microchipping, faecal egg counts (FEC), drenching, blood tests for metabolic disease, radiographs and lameness work-ups.

We also pride ourselves on providing compassionate care and thorough examinations, so we provide sedation for our patients for their comfort and to allow us to properly diagnose and treat any dental pathology present.

Who performs the dental work?

All procedures are carried out by registered veterinarians Dr Kirsten Jackson and Dr Victoria Kö-Peternelj, veterinarians with postgraduate qualifications in equine dentistry. Each has extensive training and provides clinical and educational support for referring veterinarians.

As veterinary surgeons, they can administer sedation safely, diagnose complex dental issues, carry out patient wellness assessments and perform advanced medical or surgical treatments.

Our Veterinary Nurse Kelly Dunford and Veterinary Assistant Meg Burns support every procedure, ensuring each appointment runs smoothly and that your horse remains calm and comfortable throughout.

What equine animals does Dental Vet treat?

Dental Vet provides care for all equine species including horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. Our team is experienced in managing the unique dental needs of each, ensuring every patient, from the smallest miniature to the largest draft horse, receives safe, effective and compassionate treatment.

Why is equine dental care important?

Dental problems can cause pain, weight loss and behavioural problems. Many horses hide discomfort until it becomes severe. Unfortunately by the time they present symptoms, the issue has usually escalated to severe infections and disease which can impact the lifespan of their smile and overall health. For ridden horses, placing a bit in a painful mouth can make them resist, act out, or even become dangerous. Studies show almost 60% of Western Australian horses have some form of peripheral caries, often linked to local diet and water pH 1. This highlights why regular, professional veterinary dental examinations are essential for horse health in our region.

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Whether you've got a new foal, referring a patient for review, or are worried about your horse's wellbeing, we're here to help!

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