Dental exams and Cleaning
Pets are very good at hiding the signs of dental disease. However, an observant owner can sometimes detect oral disease in their cats or dogs from simply being watchful. Some of the signs include:
· Bad breath
· Reluctant chewing
· Increased salivation
· Unusual pawing at the face
· Bleeding gums
· Missing and/or loose teeth
· Increased tartar buildup
When you detect these signs it is urgent to make an appointment at our clinic.
First we will examine your pet and then we make an appointment for the dental cleaning under sedation with x-rays. Dental x-rays are an extremely important tool that help us to more accurately detect and properly treat serious and painful dental conditions in your pet.
The health of a teeth can be difficult to evaluate by just looking at what we can see above the gumline, unless the disease is already advanced and the problem is obvious. Many teeth may appear healthy to the naked eye but in reality are hiding the more subtle disease. About 2/3 of your pet’s tooth is hidden below the gums, and this part of the tooth, which is called the root, can only be examined by taking an x-ray.
When your pet comes to us for a dentistry procedure, x-rays are taken of every tooth in their mouth, just like when you go to the human dentist. We will evaluate each individual tooth as well as the jaw bone around them to look for hidden problems, and also to help decide whether or not extraction is necessary for any teeth that are questionable to the naked eye. It is not uncommon for us to find unexpected diseases such as root disease, tooth root abscesses, resorptive lesions (cavities), retained baby teeth, bone cysts or other abnormalities of the jaw on dental x-rays. All of these conditions are painful and can lead to future problems, and may go unnoticed without x-rays.
Dental x-rays are an valuable tool in helping us recognize and effectively treat your pet’s dental problems. They allow us to be more accurate in our treatment decisions and help us to reach our ultimate goal – a happy pet with a healthy, pain-free mouth.
Home Dental Care
The key to good pet dental hygiene is prevention. Instituting a preventative dental program can be very simple yet extremely rewarding. From special diets, treats, tooth brushing to routine dental cleanings, pets may never have to experience the pain and feeling of illness associated with dental disease. With access to the right knowledge, skills and facilities, your pet will never have to suffer from dental ailments.
Routine home care should be started at 3-4 months of age. At our clinic we can provide you with useful information on how to start routine dental home care for your pets. Try to make tooth brushing as comfortable as possible for your pets and reward them for this. Patience and time are very important, because it takes approximately two months to get your pet used to tooth brushing. Your efforts are truly rewarded in the long run!
In the clinic, we have the right tools to support dental care.
Note: Never use toothpaste that is intended for human use!
Dental Disease
Statistics reveal that good oral hygiene is fairly rare among our pets. More often than not, your pet is vulnerable or already has some form of oral disease by age 2. Dental disease can significantly decrease a pet’s quality of life as well as their life expectancy. We strive to keep your pets in excellent dental health.
You may not think you need to make regular appointments for your pet’s teeth, or that their dental health is good because you don’t see any visible problems. There are, however, several dental problems your pet could face. If your pet is not given proper dental care, it is likely he/she may develop any of the following conditions:
Dentistry
· Gingivitis
· Dental abscesses
· Tooth loss
· Pain
· Liver disease
· Kidney disease
· Bone infection
Dental disease often results in extreme pain and feelings of sickness in your pet.