WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY PET HAS A
DENTAL CLEANING?
Dental disease is one of the most common
problems that we see in our pets. Studies have shown that 85%
of all dogs and cats over one year old have some degree of
periodontal disease. Imagine what our mouths would look like if
we didn't brush our teeth for several years! Some common
signs that your pet may be having dental disease is a smelly
breath, visible tartar and plaque buildup, sensitivity when
eating, excessive drooling, swollen face or gums. But worse,
dental disease is often very PAINFUL for your pet.
If you suspect that your pet may be
suffering from dental disease, please make an appointment for an
examination. If we recommend a dental cleaning for your
pet, we will take a pre-surgical blood test, which
will check your pet's kidney, liver, thyroid levels, blood count,
and other biochemical indicators of general health. We
require these tests for anypet prior to sedation.
Dental cleanings in pets need to be
performed under sedation. Your pet is anesthetized to a light
level of sedation, and a technician monitors the patient at all
times, in addition to an EKG, blood pressure and pulse
oximeter monitor. We scale the tartar and plaque from
the teeth with hand instruments and ultrasonic cleaners, both above
and below the gumline. We then examine each tooth for
periodontal disease by probing for periodontal pockets, and polish
each individual tooth to smooth the surface and prevent plaque from
attaching again. Then flouride is applied to the teeth,
and a protective dental sealant is applied to the teeth.
Veterinary dentists recommend daily teeth
brushing to decrease the tartar and plaque from forming on the
teeth after the dental cleaning. We also recommend Hill's T/D
diet to prevent tartar formation. Home care is best started
at a young age before the adult teeth erupt. Most pets will readily
accept tooth brushing if a daily routine is established at
home. We also are pleased to recommend ORAVET, a new dental
sealant which is applied during the dental cleaning to prevent
plaque from forming on the teeth. We can show you how to
apply the home care product, which greatly reduces tartar, and only
takes 30-60 seconds a week to apply! For more information
about this product, please go to the ORAVET website.
For more information about dental disease
and prevention, please contact our office.
PetDental and Dentalvet are other good websites
for more pet dental health information.
