Dentistry

Up to 85% of dogs and cats over the age of 6 have dental disease.  Dental disease is not "normal" in pets.    Dental tartar and halitosis is a source of infection in animals, is painful and will progress to tooth loss.  It is not possible to do a proper dental cleaning on animals unless they are under anesthesia.  Animals need to be under anesthesia so we can so we can ultrasonically scale the inside and outside of the teeth as well as under the gum line.  Simply removing the tarter on the outside of the teeth does the animal no good and is a waste of money!

When should your pet have a dental cleaning?  If there is visible tartar on the teeth then you should schedule a dental appointment with your pet.  Brushing the teeth when tartar is present does not help the pet and is in fact is often painful.

Why does your pet have dental disease?  Pets acquire dental disease from not brushing the teeth and not having the teeth professionally cleaned.  We brush our teeth every day and see the dentist regularly to prevent dental disease and the same steps are needed in pets as well.  Some breeds of dogs are especially prone to dental disease.

How do I prevent dental disease in my pet?  Brushing the teeth EVERY DAY is the only way to prevent dental disease in pets as well as having the teeth cleaned by a veterinarian on a regular basis.  Using dental diets, sprays, sealers and wipes can help but not as much as brushing.  Feeding hard food or treats does not prevent dental disease. 

What does a dental procedure involve?  Your pet will have a physical exam, blood work if necessary and an intravenous catheter before anesthesia is given.  After your pet is anesthetized he/she will be hooked up to monitors and monitored by a trained assistant to decrease the risk of complications.  A technician will then clean and polish all of the teeth and the veterinarian will do a complete oral exam.  Comprehensive dental hygiene includes irrigation with an antibacterial rinse, scaling (removing tarter) from all teeth both above and below the gum line, polishing the teeth, applying fluoride and applying a dental sealant. 

What are dental x-rays and are they necessary?  Dental x-rays for pets are the same as for people...we use the same equipment!  Dental  x-rays allow us to evaluate the tooth below the gum line as well as evaluate the enamel of teeth.  Every effort is made to save the teeth in your pet, however if the tooth is unhealthy it will be surgically extracted.  Our office has invested in dental radiology equipment, anesthetic monitoring equipment and high speed dental equipment to ensure you pet gets the best possible dental care we can offer.  

 How will my pet eat if several teeth are extracted?  This is a concern for many clients, however removing diseased teeth is actually better for your pet.  No teeth is better than bad teeth! In many cases, once the diseased teeth are removed the pet actually eats better because the pain and infection are gone!

My cat/dog still eats fine and the teeth are bad...is he/she in pain?  Animals have a strong natural instinct to hide pain.  By the time they quit eating, the pain is more severe than the will to survive and eat.  Normal eating is not a reliable indicator of pain.  Ask your veterinarian to evaluate the mouth of your pet and demonstrate the pain and infection that is present.

 Is my pet "too old" for a dental procedure?  Pets are never too old to have pain and infection treated.  Most clients state a major change in pets behavior after dental disease is appropriately treated.   

It is important to try to prevent dental disease from developing in your pet.  Brushing the teeth at home and having dental cleanings done when minimal tarter is present will prevent major oral surgery.  Unfortunately, many pets we see have severely diseased mouths that require more advanced, and costly, procedures.  Feel free to discuss your pets dental condition with one of our veterinarians so we can develop a treatment and prevention plan to allow your pet to have a pain and infection free mouth!