Gingival vasculature around erupting deciduous teeth of dogs and cats.

The presence of plaque and of overt inflammation, occurring with eruption of deciduous teeth in dogs and cats 2-14 weeks old, were related to the concomitant gingival vascular morphology, using vital microscopy, perfusion and histological techniques. Although localised, acute inflammation accompanied plaque formation at the time of weaning, it seldom developed into chronic inflammation. The onset of overt chronic inflammation was not related to tooth eruption or to events associated with formation of the gingiva. Infiltration of gingival tissue by chronic inflammatory cells occurred in only a few specimens and was associated with increased plaque and replacement of the gingival vessel network by loop paterns.