Veterinary Services | Dentistry
Dental Care is Important to Your Pet’s Health!
Dental care is very important, especially to our older dogs and cats. Proper dental care can increase the lifespan of your pet. During your pet’s annual exam, we will give your pet an oral exam. We use 4 grades of periodontal disease charting to determine when your dog or cat may need a dental cleaning. A cleaning will be recommended at grade 2 and above. Early detection and regular professional dental treatments will help aid in prevention of gum disease, tooth loss, bone loss and other health issues, some serious, related to dental disease.
Routine, Preventative Dental Care:
We use modern and safe ultrasonic cleaning to care for teeth both above and below the gum line. Our routine preventative dental care includes complete ultrasonic scaling, root planing and polishing. We place your pet under anesthesia and perform a comprehensive oral examination, examining individual teeth for mobility, fractures, malocclusion and periodontal disease. We remove plaque and tartar using hand instruments and power scaling equipment. We give your pet’s teeth a thorough ultrasonic polishing.
At Home Dental Care:
Dental care does not end with a visit to us. Plaque, which is an accumulation of bacteria, will progress to periodontitis, which is characterized by pockets of chronic infection, oral pain, and severe infections. Left untreated, it will eventually loosen and destroy the tooth and possibly lead to bone loss. The infection under the gum line can also spread to the liver, kidneys and heart. At home, daily brushing of your pet’s teeth will reduce or eliminate plaque buildup.
Signs of oral and dental diseases in dogs and cats:
It is important to have your dog or cat checked regularly for dental disease. If your pet is exhibiting any of these signs, please give us a call and schedule a dental exam:
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
- Your pet shies away from you when you touch the mouth area
- Drooling or dropping food from the mouth.
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Loss of appetite
