Pet Dental Care

Pet dental disease is a serious and life-threatening problem, affecting as many as 95% of all dogs and cats. Dental disease can range from a serious build-up of plaque on the teeth to periodontal disease, an infection in the gums with loss of supporting bone around the teeth. In addition, dental disease can seed the bloodstream with infection, impacting vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. When we examine your pet's teeth and mouth, we look for the following:

• Fractured or chipped teeth
• Tartar buildup
• Abscesses
• Pockets in the gums
• Correct bite
• Jaw injury
• Erosion of the enamel

When necessary, we may recommend a professional dental cleaning. This includes the removal of harmful tartar and polishing to help prevent decay.

Anesthesia and Pet Dental Care

Pets must be anesthetized in order to clean their teeth properly. To address your concerns about the use of anesthesia during dental procedures, we recommend downloading this educational information: Companion Animal Dental Scaling Without Anesthesia, a position statement from the American Veterinary Dental College.

Pre-anesthesia testing and laboratory work are performed prior to every procedure, and your pet is closely monitored from the initiation of anesthesia through full recovery by a trained anesthetic nurse. The veterinarian may take high-resolution digital dental X-rays for accuracy in diagnosing current and developing problems.

High-speed instruments similar to human dentistry are used to remove plaque from the teeth and polish enamel. In addition, we offer more advanced veterinary dental procedures as needed, such as tooth extractions and oral surgery. State-of-the-art technology and advanced training ensure your pet receives the safest experience available in pet dental care and surgical services.

Three Steps to Pet Dental Disease Prevention

1. Regular veterinary exams - As part of your routine wellness care, our veterinarian will look at your pet's mouth, teeth, and gums to determine if there are any obvious problems; routine lab work may also reveal a hidden infection or other related health issue.
2. Proper teeth cleaning - Under anesthesia, our veterinarian can thoroughly examine the mouth for developing problems, remove plaque and tartar both above and below the gum line, and polish the tooth enamel; digital dental X-rays help to reveal problems occurring deep in the tooth or surrounding area.
3. Home dental care - Our veterinary professionals will assist you in developing a home dental hygiene routine to maintain clean teeth and promote healthy gums; a diet of good quality pet food and chew treats are a positive addition to your home care plan.