Dentistry
There are many steps that we can take to help slow the progression of dental disease in pets. In many cases, despite all these measures, dentistry is still necessary.
How do I know if my pets teeth need cleaning?
There are many signs of dental disease. If your pet has visible tartar or discoloration of teeth, if the gums appear red, the breath is unpleasant or if your pet is reluctant or unable to eat it may have dental disease. If you think your pet has dental problems or are unsure call us to schedule an appointment for a dental evaluation or mention your concerns to the Doctor the next time your pet is in for an evaluation.
What is involved in cleaning my pet’s teeth?
Proper cleaning of the teeth requires complete cooperation of the patient so plaque and tartar can be removed properly. Anesthesia is required to thoroughly clean the teeth. Although anesthesia always carries a degree of risk, the modern anesthetics in use in our hospital minimize this risk, even for older pets. Depending on your dog’s age and general health status, blood may be analyzed prior to anesthesia to evaluate blood cell counts and major organ function.
Before the cleaning process is started a full set of radiographs (Xrays) are done on your pet’s mouth. This will help us evaluate the health of the teeth and the bones around the teeth. This will help determine if any teeth need to be removed.
There are four steps in the cleaning process that will be used on your pet:
- Scaling removes the tartar above and below the gum line. This is done with hand instruments and ultrasonic cleaning equipment.
- Polishing smoothes the surface of the teeth, making them resistant to additional plaque formation.
- Flushing removes dislodged tartar from the teeth and helps to remove the bacteria that accompany tartar.
- Fluoride coating decreases teeth sensitivity, strengthens enamel, and decreases the rate of future plaque formation.
What type of scheduling is needed for teeth cleaning?
In order for us to clean your pet’s teeth, we ask that you schedule the procedure a few days in advance. It will be necessary to withhold food the night before. Take away the food bowl when you go to bed, please do not remove the water. Your pet should be admitted to the hospital early on the morning of the procedure (link to drop offs) and will generally be ready for discharge in the late afternoon. The pet will need to stay indoors that evening to insure that no accidents (falls, etc.) occur until complete recovery from anesthesia. If that is not possible, you may elect to have the pet spend the night in the hospital. The recovering pet should be offered small amounts of water and food that evening. By the next morning your pet will be completely recovered and you can provide food and water according to your normal schedule.
For more information on proper dental care, click here.
