Periodontal disease in a Beagle dog colony

Abstract

The histological and macroscopic features of periodontal disease were examined in 40 Beagle dogs, aged between 1 and 8 years. Subclinical gingivitis was associated with the presence of a few polymorphonuclear leucocytes within the sulcular and junctional epithelium and a mild inflammatory cell infiltration of the underlying connective tissue. In established gingivitis the junctional epithelium proliferated into the underlying connective tissue which was densely infiltrated by inflammatory cells mainly of the plasma cell type and large numbers of polymorphonuclear leucocytes accumulated between the sulcular epithelium and the subgingival deposits of bacterial plaque. The progressive destruction of the connective tissue attachment to the tooth was associated with migration of the junctional epithelium beyond the cement-enamel junction and loss of alveolar bone. The results suggest that the Beagle dog may be a useful research model for the further study of periodontal disease and its prevention.