Dental Care

WHAT IS INVOLVED WHEN YOU SCHEDULE A DENTAL

Your pet’s visit for a Dental procedure is a lot more than removing tartar from teeth. Our goal is to restore your four-legged family member’s mouth to its normal, fresh, healthy state! Having your pet’s teeth professionally evaluated and cleaned is one of the most important medical treatments you can invest in that will result in long-term good health. It is always important to have your pet’s teeth professionally cleaned, but many times that is not the primary treatment your pet needs. Many pets have other dental problems that predispose them to an unhealthy mouth. A thorough oral exam will allow us to identify tooth malformations, malocclusions (misaligned teeth), gum disease, oral masses, and other diseases that might contribute to your pet’s dental disease

TEETH CLEANING AND POLISHING

Teeth cleaning begins with removal of tartar from the crowns and is followed by cleaning the teeth below the gum line. Simply removing the tartar from the crowns makes the teeth look better, but cleaning the teeth below the gum line is extremely important for controlling dental disease. The sulcus around the teeth will be evaluated using an instrument called a periodontal probe. This measures the depth of the small pocket around each tooth and helps us determine if periodontal disease is affecting any of the teeth. Teeth will be assessed and owners will be notified if extractions are necessary, depending on the severity.

After all teeth are appropriately treated, they are polished to remove any scratches that might be present on the crown. Any teeth noted to be fractured or missing will be x-rayed. Evaluation of missing teeth is necessary to determine if they were never formed, impacted, or if the crowns are fractured and the roots were left behind to become infected. Fractured teeth are x-rayed to determine if the pulp cavity has been compromised and needs root canal therapy or extraction. Fractured teeth should never be ignored as this could lead to an abscess and possibly cause disease in other body organs (liver, kidney, heart, etc). Intraoperative and postoperative pain management will be provided for your pet’s oral health.

AFTERCARE

When we release your pet to recuperate at home you will receive instructions for home dental care, details on any medications, and what to watch for in your pet’s continuing recovery.

HOME CARE AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
There are several ways to keep your pets' teeth healthy and fresh.
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• BRUSHING– Daily brushing is the single best way to help prevent plaque from building up
• ORAL RINSE- C.E.T Oral Hygiene rinse: This is an easy-to-use mouth rinse. Just place the applicator tip between the cheek and gums and apply. This is a great choice if your pet does not tolerate brushing the teeth.
• ORAVET CHEWS- Formulated for daily use, they are proven effective at reducing halitosis (bad breath), plaque, and calculus (tartar) build-up. To learn more visit our featured products page or stop by the clinic and pick up a sample today!
• PRESCRIPTION DIET- Due to its unique kibble shape and size, special fiber matrix technology, and complete balanced nutrition Hills t/d prescription diet food is a great choice to help promote overall Dental health. With a current annual exam, you can try hills t/d (also available in small bites!)