Preventive Dental Care
Routine dental care matters.
A pet's dental health is just as important as their physical health, however, it often goes overlooked. The reality is that oral hygiene plays a huge part in ensuring your pet lives a long, healthy life.
Dental disease is a common but serious problem. Approximately 80% of pets will develop it by the time they’re three and, if left untreated, it will spread to the tooth socket and destroy bone. It also allows bacteria to travel from the mouth and through the body which can affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver and cause chronic health issues.
The good news is that dental disease is entirely preventable and with regular preventive care, you can help your pet avoid the pitfalls associated with poor oral hygiene.
How can I help my pet maintain good oral hygiene?
The best way to make sure your pet’s teeth remain healthy is by having routine annual exams. Whether you have a puppy or kitten with a mouth full of baby teeth or an adult pet whose teeth need to be checked for plaque, tartar, or dental disease, having a veterinarian examine them is the first step to making sure they’re in good health.
During your pet’s comprehensive physical, your veterinarian will perform a dental health assessment and make recommendations for preventive care. Sometimes this will mean performing good home preventative care, other times, it will mean scheduling an appointment for a dental cleaning or extraction.
Although we recommend brushing your pet’s teeth daily as part of a good preventive care routine, we understand that it’s not always possible. Luckily, there are other ways to maintain your pet’s oral health when you can’t brush their teeth.
- Utilize water additives
- Give your pet a dental chew every other day
- Choose food and treats that control plaque and promote dental health
- Schedule dental cleanings as recommended by your veterinarian
What is a Dental Cleaning?
To perform the dental cleaning your pet will be put under anesthesia to prevent them from moving around and to allow the doctor to perform a full examination and cleaning. We make sure that your pet is comfortable and perfectly safe during the entire process. While your pet is under, the doctor examines the mouth, gums, tongue, cheeks, and teeth. This can reveal any cases of lesions, gum disease, tooth decay, or other problems.
We will perform full-mouth digital dental radiographs. These radiographs provide our veterinarians with valuable information about your pet's dental health by allowing us to see below the gum line and identify any abnormalities that may otherwise be undetectable. When these are discovered, they can usually be handled during the treatment. After examining the mouth the doctor will complete a full cleaning of the teeth and polish them thoroughly to give your pet a healthy, attractive set of teeth.
Our skilled surgical technician will review each radiograph with you upon discharge from our hospital, in addition to providing you with detailed instructions on home care after the dental.
Call us at (603) 253-7701 to schedule your pet’s oral health assessment or dental cleaning.
