Our veterinarians offer exceptional pet dental services to help treat and prevent dental disease.
When was the last time you had your pet’s teeth cleaned? According to the AVMA, pets who have never had a teeth cleaning have signs of dental disease by the time they are three years old. For that reason, Veterinary Care Center recommends that all pets have a yearly dental cleaning and oral examination. If it has been a while, give us a call or text at 636-537-9960.
Gum Disease in Dogs and Cats
The process of dental decay and disease starts every time your pet eats. When your pet eats, food particles get on their teeth and gums. This fuels the bacteria in your pet’s mouth, causing an acid attack on the enamel of their teeth and creating a sticky, clear substance called plaque. If the plaque is left on teeth, it hardens into tartar. When plaque and tartar are left on your pet’s teeth for an extended period of time, it can lead to gingivitis, periodontal disease, cavities and oral infections.
Signs of Dental Disease in Pets
When it comes to detecting potential oral health problems in pets, owners must be vigilant in noticing changes in behavior. This is because pets often do not act like they are in pain until the pain is severe. If you notice any of the signs below, it is important that you contact us to schedule a dental checkup, teeth cleaning and gum disease treatment.
- Broken or loose teeth
- Discomfort while eating & chewing
- Bad breath
- Red, swollen gums or bleeding
- Staining or buildup on the teeth
- Swollen face , painful mouth & face
- Weight loss or loss of appetite
The Hazards of Untreated Periodontal Disease in Pets
Untreated periodontal disease in dogs and cats can lead to dangerous infections, like tooth loss, abscesses and blood infections. Advanced dental disease may also affect your pet’s heart, liver and kidneys. In order to avoid these potentially life-threatening conditions, it is important to keep your pet’s teeth clean with a combination of at-home care and regular veterinary teeth cleanings.
Pet Dental Cleaning Procedures
Your pet’s dental cleaning is very similar to what you and I may experience when we go to the dentist. First, we will start with an oral exam, where our veterinarian will assess your pets’ overall oral health and determine any oral concerns. Our veterinarian will then review a treatment plan with you about what procedures will be needed for your pet. A preanesthetic blood test is done prior to the procedure to ensure that your pet is healthy for the dental cleaning procedure.
During the procedure, full digital radiographs will be taken of your pet’s mouth and teeth to look for concerns above and below the gum line. Then your pet’s teeth will be cleaned by use of ultra-sound scaling on all surfaces of their teeth to remove plaque and tarter buildup. After scaling, the teeth are polished to remove microscopic scratches and slow the rate of subsequent plaque build-up. Lastly, we use cold-laser therapy over the gums to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Our team will also go over at home oral care to help keep your pet’s smile looking its best after their cleaning! We recommend brushing your pet’s teeth daily with pet friendly toothpaste. Dental chews and oral rinses can be used together with brushing to help keep your pet’s mouth healthy!
