Resistance of Dogs to Dental Caries: A Two-Year Study

¹ Department of Pedodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

In an attempt to find a satisfactory laboratory animal for studies of deep carious lesions, 3 dogs were anesthetized and the salivary glands extirpated. Subsequently, the dogs were maintained on a high-carbohydrate diet. In addition, nidi were produced in selected teeth of each dog, and lactobacillus broth was injected weekly into 3 teeth which were covered with a metallic crown. The xerostomia which resulted from the surgery produced alterations of eating habits and definite pathrological changes in the gingivae. The activity of dental caries, however, was never manifested clinically, radiographically, or histologically during the two years of study.