Seals occasionally exhibit rapid destructive periodontosis with severe halitosis and tooth drifting. Antibiotic therapy is only a short-term therapy. In the long term extraction of the affected teeth is the only realistic option.

Sea lion teeth invariably exhibit severe staining. Some people blame the stains on harmless chromogenic bacterial, while others claim it is produced by their saliva. The stain has no reflection on the health of the gingiva.

This perio-endo lesion must not be confused with primary periodontal disease. Here the cause of the destruction and inflammation has been the periapical abscess caused by the pulp exposure and infection of the canine tooth.