Dental Services

Dental Disease Is Affecting 80% Of Dogs And Cats, But You Can Stop It In A Quick And Easy Way.

Good dental health is vital to the overall health of your pet. Dental disease generally follows this pathway:

Pet eats -> food stuck between teeth -> digested by bacteria in the mouth -> forms plaque -> gingivitis (inflamed, infected gums) -> plaque hardens to form tartar/calculus -> pushes under the gum line -> deeper infection of the teeth/root/gums known as periodontal (dental) disease -> loose teeth, bone loss, tooth root abscesses, bacteria shedding into the bloodstream -> bacteria spreads throughout the body -> can damage the heart, kidneys, liver, etc.

Most dogs and cats require at least annual dental cleanings to maintain good oral health, and the American Animal Hospital Association recommends dental cleanings annually after 1 year of age for cats and small dogs or 2 years of age for large dogs. To be effective this must be done under general anesthesia in a veterinary setting.

Anesthesia-free dental cleanings are not effective in thoroughly treating and evaluating dental diseases. Link to an evaluation of anesthesia-free dental cleanings: https://avdc.org/download/30/position-statements/2876/dental-scaling-without-anesthesia.pdf

Dogwood Veterinary Dental Treatment Steps:

• Patient history, physical exam, and initial oral survey

• Patient placed under general gas anesthesia with strict monitoring

• Flush mouth with an antiseptic solution to reduce external bacterial counts

• Removal of tartar above the gum line (tartar on the visible part of the tooth)

• Removal of tartar under the gum line (tartar on the non-visible part of the tooth)

• Probe all teeth and perform dental charting (noting abnormal pockets or other problems)

• Full-mouth dental x-rays

• Polish all surfaces of teeth

• Flush the gum line with an antiseptic solution

• Fluoride application

• Provide pain medication as needed

• Make a treatment plan and schedule the next appointment

• Discuss home care

Common signs of dental disease in dogs and cats:

• Bad breath

• Discolored teeth/gums

• Teeth covered in tartar

• Drooling

• Dropping food from the mouth

• Pet not wanting his/her mouth touched

• Bleeding from the mouth

• Swelling under the eye or along the gum line

• Loss of appetite or weight loss
  
  

Tooth extractions:

Many pet owners are unaware of just how involved tooth extractions can be. Extracting a tooth is a type of oral surgery and can include numbing teeth, cutting teeth with a drill, suturing gum tissue, and taking dental x-rays. If you would like more information please click on the following link to see a narrated slideshow about dental extractions:

Warning: This video contains some graphic material.

Tools to maintain good dental health:

• Annual veterinary dental cleanings (small dogs may require dental treatments every 6 months as they build up tartar at a faster rate).

• Tooth brushing at home daily (with pet-friendly toothpaste).

• Dental products/treats approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.

• Feeding a dental diet designed to prevent/remove tartar buildup.
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Veterinary Dental links:

American Veterinary Dental College

Academy of Veterinary Dentistry

American Veterinary Dental Society

Veterinary Oral Health Council

American Veterinary Medical Association