Why Dental Care?

Dental disease is the most common, most diagnosed, most often- recognized health problem we see in our companion animals.
As in people, plaque and tartar build up on the teeth. This is formed by food particles and bacteria, which bind  together with salivary secretions . If this plaque is allowed to accumulate, it can  eventually cause a variety of dental conditions.

                                                               How do I know?

"Lift-a-lip". Gently lift a lip and look at your pet's teeth. Gum problems occur when bacteria accumulate at the gum line and in time will appear as a  brown accumulation of tartar on the teeth.  The gums can become red or swollen and your pet's breath will smell bad. If left untreated this may progress to an eventual tooth loss. Another common dental abnormality is chips or fractures on the tooth's surface. Superficial chips usually cause no problems, however, tooth fractures that expose the pulp   (you may notice a  black spot on the tooth) allow bacteria to travel up the tooth and can eventually lead  to a tooth abscess.
Once tartar has formed on your pets' teeth, it cannot be removed by brushing alone, but requires professional teeth cleaning. The age at which the procedure needs to be done varies. Smaller breed dogs and cats often need their teeth cleaned at a younger age than large breed dogs. In general, most dogs need their first dental cleaning between 2 and 5 years of age.

                                                                The Dental Procedure

In contrast to your own dental cleaning, veterinary dentistry is considerably more involved. It requires preanesthetic blood work, general anesthesia and monitoring.We use safe and
gentle anesthesia tailored to your pet's needs.While your pet is sleeping comfortably, we perform a thorough oral exam in which we record all abnormalities on a dental chart.
The first part of dental cleaning requires the removal of tartar. This is done with a hand scaler.
Next, a periodontal probe checks for pockets under the gum line where periodontal disease and bad breath starts. An ultrasonic scaler is used to clean above the gum line while a curette cleans and smooths the teeth under the gum line in the crevice.
 Your pet's teeth are polished, creating a smooth surface. The gums are washed with an anti- bacterial solution to help delay tartar build-up both under the gumline and on the crown of the tooth.

                                                               What to do at Home

Prevention is key! Start brushing your pet's teeth at home to prevent build up of tartar. Our staff is  happy to show you the best way and  will answer any
questions you may have.