It is important to identify cases with just alveolar and labial/buccal mucositis and no caudal mucositis. If these patients respond to adequate Phase I treatment (ie, complete cleaning and polishing, radiographs, and select extractions), stomatitis is unlikely.
Patients with caudal mucositis in the area bordered medially by the palatoglossal folds and fauces (formerly termed faucitis, which is less accurate) generally will not respond to Phase I treatment; Phase II intervention (ie, caudal mouth extractions, complete removal of all remaining premolars and molars, and debridement of inflamed tissues [eg, friable gingival margins and alveolar ridges]) is often recommended. Incisors can also be removed, but, unless there is significant inflammation or bone loss, the canine teeth are kept because of the additional surgical time and expense required for full-mouth extractions and/or owner preference to preserve the canines.