Dentistry

Dental Wellness

         Proper dental health is a main concern we have for our patients because it is vital to their well being.  When you bring in your pet for their examination it will include a thorough oral examination.  The doctor will access the health of the gums, the integrity of the teeth and the surrounding soft tissue. We want to be sure your pet has a healthy mouth that is free of infection, disease or pain.  

        Our pet’s teeth are very similar to our own. When they eat, small food particles and bacteria adhere to the tooth surface. If this is not removed within a few days, it will harden and develop into plaque and eventually tarter.  This is the hard yellowish to brownish material that you may notice on your pet’s teeth. Just like humans, dogs and cats need daily brushing to removed this material before it develops a problem.  Calculus, if not removed, will cause gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), gum recession, the breakdown of supporting tooth structures and possibly an abscess.  A tooth that is diseased will cause infection, pain and even serious systemic illness.  Even with brushing, eventually your pet may need a professional dental cleaning.  Although all breeds get dental disease  there are some breeds that are more prone to it. They include: Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Greyhound, Pug, Chihuahua, and Abbysinian.

Professional Dental Prophylaxis
        Dental cleanings are performed at our clinic Monday through Friday; please call our office for scheduling.  Your pet will need to be dropped off between 8:30 and 8:45 am.  A thorough pre-surgical exam is performed that morning to determine your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia.  If the doctors feel it is necessary, your pet may need blood work prior to sedation. This can be done at the same time using our in clinic lab.  Your dog’s heartworm test must have been done within 12 months of the cleaning.
        During their stay with us, your pet is placed under general anesthesia based upon their health status and blood work results.  Next we do a more thorough oral examination, creating a dental chart for our medical records.  We make note of areas of gum disease including the severity of gingivitis, missing or loose teeth, and any abnormality in the oral cavity.  
        Next we remove the plaque and tarter from all the tooth surfaces using an ultrasonic scaler and sub-gingival currettes.   If there are areas of concern, we will take digital radiographs of the teeth to determine if there is disease below the gum line.  At this time the doctor will remove loose and infected teeth.  Each tooth is then polished to smooth out the surface of the enamel and prevent plaque from attaching.  Finally we apply a Fluoride foam to each tooth to strengthen the enamel and prevent the growth of bacteria.
       Antibiotics may be prescribed if teeth needed to be extracted or if there are other areas of infection or concern.  Because our patient’s comfort is one of our main concerns, pain medication is dispensed if teeth are extracted.  Usually your pet goes home that same day, after 3:30.

Links:
Visit www.petdental.com for more information on pet dental health

A dog's mouth before a teeth cleaning                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      After teeth cleaning

 

HOME DENTAL CARE

Home dental care is the key to good oral health.  Our Veterinary

 Health Care Team will help you determine what type of care will be best for your pet.

 

 

 

 

Specially Formulated Diets:

An effective and convenient way to control plaque and tarter buildup is feeding specially formulated foods.  For example, Hill’s Prescription Diet T/D and Oral Care, Eukanuba Dental Defense System and Friskies Dental Diet.  Science Diet T/D and Oral Care have a textured characteristic designed to remove plaque from the teeth during chewing.  The Eukanuba and Friskies diets contain chemical additives that aid in the prevention of plaque and tarter buildup. 

 

 

 

Dental Toys and Chew Bones:

There are many dental toys on the market that are designed to be fun and clean your pet’s teeth at the same time.  Examples include bones and ropes made by the companies Kong and Nylabone.  Chew toys may also help reduce the accumulation of plaque.  Enzyme “enhanced” chews, for example C.E.T. Chews, are generally preferred over extremely hard objects, such as animal bones and ice.  These hard substances may cause severe wear and even tooth fractures.

 

 

 

Brushing Teeth:

Regular tooth brushing at home is also very important for good oral hygiene.  Brushing your pet’s teeth can effectively remove plaque before it forms into tarter, therefore significantly reducing his/her chance of developing gingivitis and/or dental disease.  A soft-bristle toothbrush works well.  Small toothbrushes and fingertip brushes are made specifically for dogs and cats, but a small, soft, children’s toothbrush can be just as effective.  A flavored enzymatic toothpaste made specifically for dogs and cats is highly recommended.  It is important to use enzymatic toothpaste rather than flavored pet toothpaste.  Enzymatic toothpaste not only works during the brushing but continues to work in the mouth by breaking down plaque and bacteria.  Because of this, after brushing it is not necessary to rinse your pet’s mouth out with water.  Human toothpaste should not be used because it may be harmful if swallowed due to the detergent composition. 

 

 

 

Oral Rinses:

Another effective method to maintain healthy teeth and gums are oral solutions and gels that are specifically designed for pets.  These solutions are designed to decrease the bacterial population in the mouth, therefore decreasing the formation of plaque and tarter.  An example of an oral gel product is Maxi Guard Oral Cleansing Gel.