Overview: Your furry companions deserve top-notch dental care for their overall well-being. Prioritizing pet dental health is essential to proactively manage and treat issues that can otherwise lead to broader health problems.
Through regular veterinary dental check-ups, cleanings, and tailored treatments, you can safeguard your pet’s oral health, ensuring their enduring well-being and happiness.

Here’s an overview of why pets need dental care and how the process works:

Why Do Pets Need Dental Care?

  1. Oral Health and Overall Health: Many health problems can originate in a pet’s mouth. Issues such as plaque, tartar, periodontal disease, and infected teeth can lead to inflammation and infections in the rest of the body, affecting their overall health.
  2. Common Dental Problems: Dental disease is a prevalent issue in dogs and cats, leading to symptoms like drooling, reluctance to eat, swelling, bad breath, red gums, loose teeth, and tooth discoloration.

When to Seek Dental Care for Your Pet: Dental problems and related diseases can often be prevented by seeking regular dental examinations and cleanings from veterinarians. A comprehensive approach to dental care, including assessment, treatment, and prevention, is essential to maintaining a pet’s oral health.

How Does It Work?

  1. Teeth Exams, Cleaning, and Polishing: Dental cleanings for dogs and cats closely resemble human dental cleanings but require anesthesia for safe and thorough examination and cleaning. After cleaning, veterinarians conduct a detailed oral examination to check for signs of disease, such as gum loss, root exposure, or pockets around the root.
  2. X-Rays (Radiographs): Full mouth radiographs are taken to evaluate the roots of a pet’s teeth and detect any disease or abnormalities located below the gum line, which may not be visible during the examination alone.
  3. Tooth Extractions: Veterinarians make every effort to save teeth that can be successfully treated. However, advanced periodontal disease may necessitate tooth extraction, but only when the veterinarian determines the tooth is beyond saving.
  4. Minor Oral Surgery: Some teeth may require oral surgery to safely remove individual roots. Veterinary professionals are well-trained and experienced in performing these procedures. Pain medications are administered during the clinic visit and provided for at-home aftercare to ensure the pet’s comfort and recovery.