What does a “Dental” mean?

Periodontal disease (bone loss) may start simply as bad breath. Inflamed gums (gingivitis) and periodontal disease are the most common oral problems we see. Dental treatment involves a number of things:

1. Because we use anesthesia while cleaning and treating your pet’s teeth, the dental cleaning procedure begins with a health examination. We also recommend pre-anesthetic testing, to be sure your pet’s internal organs can handle the anesthesia, and to minimize risk.

2. Oral examination under anesthesia to determine the extent of disease in the mouth. This may include: Halitosis (bad breath), Plaque, Tartar (Calculus), Gingivitis, Deciduous (puppy or kitten) Teeth that have not been lost before six months of age, Pyorrhea (Mouth Infection), Periodontal Disease (Infection involving the bone surrounding the teeth), and Tumors. The need for type of treatment can only be determined at the time of the dental prophylaxis, while your pet is under anesthesia.

3. Dental Prophylaxis (“Prophy”) involves the cleaning of the teeth and the subgingival sulcus. This is done with an ultrasonic scaler and hand-scaling, just as your dentist cleans your teeth. The mouth is rinsed and cleansed, the teeth are polished, and the teeth are then coated with fluoride gel to protect the enamel. Lastly, OraVet Barrier Sealant is applied.

4. Extractions may be necessary. Teeth that are loose and infected must be removed to retard the progression of periodontal disease and to preserve the healthy teeth remaining. In cats and rarely in dogs, cavities can also occur. In cats, these are usually below the gumline, and the cavities are referred to as Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions (FORL). These lesions are progressive, and the current treatment of choice is extraction of the affected teeth. Dental X-rays may be needed to further evaluate your pet’s oral health.

5. Antibiotic therapy may be necessary. Appropriate antibiotics have been shown to assist in controlling oral infections and periodontal disease. Many animals will benefit from taking these antibiotics every 3 months, for a few days each treatment.

6. Home Care is very important to insure the success of your pet’s dental treatment. At any time, we can demonstrate for you the process of brushing or cleaning your pet’s teeth. Daily brushing is best. Human toothpaste is not appropriate for pets; pet toothpaste is best. Following OraVet treatment, we recommend application of Home Care OraVet, a plaque prevention gel.

Regular professional dental care with good home care will insure good oral health and a healthy pet. It has been said that pets that have good dental care will live two years longer than a pet with poor oral health.