Beside the oral examination to stage "grade" your pet's dental health, there are several conditions that may also be recognized by the veterinarian during the examination.  The following is a list of some of these conditions.
Tooth Abscess - When the root of a tooth becomes infected, and abscess will form within the bone surrounding the root.  This is a very painful condition in both animals and people.  In some cases, pus will drain from the abscess into the pet's mouth, yuck.  In other cases, a swelling will develop on the pet's face, and the abscess can rupture under the eye if not attended.  Removal of the tooth is the most effective method of curing abscessed teeth.  Antibiotics and pain medications are frequently prescribed prior to the dental procedure which will temporarily reduce the infection in the mouth.
Tooth Fracture - Teeth can easily become fractured, especially in those animals that enjoy chewing on hard items.  Any fracture to the tooth can allow bacteria to penetrate the tooth and eventually cause an infection or abscessed tooth.  If only the enamel is fractured, and the tooth is healthy based on exam and x-rays, a bonded sealant can be applied to the tooth to seal the enamel.  If the pulp is exposed, this is a guaranteed way for infection to enter the body.  If it is infected, the tooth needs to be removed.  Alternatives are root canal and crown placement, which requires referral to a veterinary dentist.
Resorptive Lesion​ - This is a lesion where the tooth breaks down from the cementum (layer of the tooth that holds the root to the bone).  It will then progress and spread throughout the tooth, either dissolving the root or causing a weakness in the crown of the tooth (the part of the tooth you can see).  These are found commonly in cats, and we are now starting to see more of the lesions in dogs.  Unfortunately, the only way to cure the lesions is removal of the remaining tooth.
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Stomatitis - Severe inflammation of the mouth, most commonly seen in cats.  These cats have very red, inflamed gums and possibly bleeding from the gums.  There is also inflammation present on the tonsils, palate, and other areas of the mouth.  This is VERY painful for cats.  We can try to treat these cats with anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics, but in most cases, extraction of the majority of the cat's teeth is the only way that we will cure the problem.
Tooth Wear - Very common in dogs.  This is caused by chewing on hard and coarse objects such as tennis balls, rocks, and even hair.  Many dogs will wear the teeth down to the pulp cavity and create a reparative dentin layer to help protect the pulp cavity of the tooth.
Furcation - A furcation occurs when the bone between the roots is lost due to infection.  Once bone around the teeth is lost, it cannot be replaced.  In severe cases, a probe can be placed through the area where the bone is lost.  Unfortunately,  the only way to help prevent further bone loss is removal of the tooth.
Gingival hyperplasia - This is an overgrowth of the gum tissue surrounding the teeth.  This can trap debris and bacteria around the teeth.  This is a common condition seen in Boxers, Collies, and Cocker Spaniels.  It can also be a side effect of some medications.  Treatment is cutting back the tissue to their original levels.
Deciduous teeth - These are baby teeth that haven't fallen out.  All baby (deciduous) teeth should have fallen out by six (6) months of age.  In some animals, especially toy and small breed dogs, these teeth do not fall out.  Leaving these teeth in the mouth will make an area for dental calculus formation and infection.