Did you know that…
- Periodontal disease affects 80% of dogs and cats by 3 years of age, making it the most common health condition in pets?
- One milligram of dental plaque harbors more than one trillion potentially disease-causing bacteria?
- Routine dental care is one of the best ways to add years to your pet’s life?
Professional Dental Cleanings
Fortunately, periodontal disease is preventable, and reversible in its early stages, through routine dental care. By combining daily toothbrushing with regular dental cleanings, it is possible to keep dental disease at bay.
When our veterinarians evaluate your pet’s dental health during their annual wellness visit, they may recommend a professional dental cleaning. This process is similar to the cleaning you receive when you visit the dentist. After placing your pet under anesthesia each tooth will be cleaned and polished using our state-of-the-art ultrasonic dental unit. If diseased teeth are identified, our veterinarians will make recommendations about treatment. In some cases, we will recommend extraction of teeth that cannot be saved, and may be causing pain for your pet. Digital dental X-rays may be taken of their complete mouth. Since 60% of each tooth is located below the gumline, along with the majority of periodontal-related problems, dental X-rays are a critical part of each dental procedure.
Using our state-of-the-art ultrasonic dental unit, each tooth will be cleaned and polished. If diseased teeth are identified, our veterinarians will make recommendations about treatment. In some cases, we will recommend extraction of teeth that cannot be saved, and may be causing pain for your pet.
After your pet’s teeth are clean, we recommend daily toothbrushing to ward off future plaque and tartar accumulation. It is best to start brushing your pet’s teeth when they are young, to acclimate them to the process early. However, it is never too late to start. Our team will be happy to demonstrate how to brush your pet’s teeth.