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What You Should Know About Your Pet's Dental Care
A very important part of every physical exam for our furry friends is inspection of the mouth and teeth for signs of dental disease. Dental disease initially starts with plaque accumulation after a meal. If the teeth are not brushed, the plaque can harden and become tartar. The gums become inflamed and red (a condition known as "gingivitis") as a reaction to the plaque and tartar. If untreated, plaque, tartar and gingivitis can progress to a more serious disease called periodontitis. Periodontitis is an infection which can be painful and lead to tooth loss.
If you have been brushing your pets' teeth regularly then the teeth may look great. Pat yourself on the back and keep brushing. (See how) Unfortunately, many pets do not get their teeth brushed daily. Eventually, they may need a dental cleaning under anesthesia to get the tartar cleaned off and to get any periodontal problems addressed.
Pet owners often have a lot of questions about dental procedures. Here are answers to some of the most common questions that we receive:
Is anesthesia really needed?
Yes. We need to use an ultrasonic scaler to remove the tartar and then we need to probe below the gum line to look for problems. These procedures are uncomfortable and cannot be done properly while a pet is awake.
Is the anesthesia safe?
Yes. We actually use the same anesthesia that a human hospital would use on grandma.
What if a problem is found with the teeth?
It is not uncommon to find teeth that need to be extracted. Pets may do things like chew on rocks and sticks and then eat feces, which introduces bacteria into the mouth. Years of these behaviors can lead to one or more bad teeth that need extraction due to damage or advanced periodontitis. Cats also can get painful resorptive lesions - basically really bad cavities - which appear to be inherited. If dental extractions are needed they can be done during the same anesthesia session as the cleaning. We administer pain medication so your pet is comfortable when he or she wakes up. It is common for pets to need some antibiotics after a dental cleaning procedure, whether or not extractions were involved.
How can I prevent dental disease?
Daily tooth brushing is the best prevention for dental disease, but if your pet will not allow this, your veterinarian can suggest some other options such as dental treats, oral hygiene sprays, or gels. Some pets are simply more prone to dental problems because of their genes and will need more dental care throughout life. Luckily, these days we have readily available, safe anesthesia and high-tech dental equipment so that pets can have their teeth cleaned whenever they need it. For many pet this is about once a year. Having your pets teeth cleaned when it is recommended by your veterinarian is one of the most important things that you can do to keep them healthy and happy.
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