Dentistry

Proper dental care is important in keeping your pet healthy and happy. When your pet's teeth aren't clean, bad breath is not the only problem that your cat or dog faces. Periodontal disease, caused by a build-up of bacteria and plaque on your pet's teeth and gums causes bleeding and severe inflammation of the gums, gum recession, alveolar bone loss (the bone that supports the tooth is "eaten away") and tooth mobility. As periodontal disease progresses, the bacteria can spread from the mouth, travel through the blood and cause damage to the heart, liver and kidneys. Periodontal disease is not only serious, it is also more common than most pet owners realize. In fact, more than 80 percent of dogs and cats have this problem by the time they're four years old. So, it's easy to understand why periodontal disease is one of the most frequently diagnosed health problems in pets today. To help prevent periodontal disease in your pet, it's recommended to have your pets' teeth examined every 6 to 12 months.

What Signs Am I Likely to See?

There are a number of signs that should alert you to dental disease or other mouth related problems. Your pet may show a decreased interest in food or approach the food bowl and then show a reluctance to eat. He or she may chew with obvious discomfort, drop food, or swallow with difficulty. This reluctance to eat can also result in weight loss. You may notice drooling and a noticeably unpleasant odor to your pets' breath. Some pets have significant disease, yet have little to no signs until they need multiple tooth extractions. Having your pet's teeth examined on a regular basis is very important for early diagnosis and care.

Now What?

Once tartar has formed on your pets' teeth, it cannot be removed by brushing alone, but requires professional teeth cleaning. The age at which the procedure needs to be done varies. Smaller breed dogs and cats often need their teeth cleaned at a young age while larger breed dogs may not need a cleaning until they are a little older. The following can help you to better understand what may be involved in your pet's teeth cleaning.

What's Involved with Teeth Cleaning?

Veterinary dentistry is quite different from the equivalent process in people. For most of us, caring for our teeth and gums has been part of our daily routine for as long as we can remember. Consequently, a person's visit to the dental hygienist is relatively brief and does not require sedation. In contrast, veterinary dentistry is considerably more involved, time-consuming, and complex. It requires general anesthesia, and consequently a day's hospitalization and the skills of several people, from veterinarians to veterinary technicians and animal attendants.

Your pet's dental cleaning will begin with a physical examination. This is important to evaluate your pet's general health. After the physical exam, your pet is given an anesthesia for a safe and painless sleep during the dental cleaning.

The first part of dental cleaning requires the removal of tartar. This is done with a hand scaler.

Next, a periodontal probe checks for pockets under the gumline where periodontal disease and bad breath starts. An ultrasonic scaler is used to clean above the gumline while a curette cleans and smoothes the teeth under the gumline in the crevice.

Your pet's teeth are polished, creating a smooth surface. The gums are washed with an anti- bacterial solution to help delay tartar build-up both under the gumline and on the crown of the tooth.

Home Prevention

Dental care does not end with a visit to your veterinary hospital. You need to continue your veterinarian's good work at home. Brushing your pet's teeth is an important part of home dental care. The staff at Norwell Veterinary Hospital can show you the proper method of brushing your pet's teeth.

Give your Pet Complete Dental Care

Annual veterinary dental care and home dental care will help keep your pet's breath fresh and gums and teeth healthy. Your pet's smile and healthier life will be equaled by your smile and pride in a job well done.