By age 3, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of dental disease. – American Veterinary Dental College
We know brushing your child’s teeth can sometimes be challenging. The same goes for our pets. But just like in people, good dental health plays a huge role in your pet’s overall well-being. We are here to help by providing you with the resources and treatments to keep your pet’s dental health on track.
The dental grading chart below outlines the different levels or grades of dental disease progression in dogs and cats. By staying current on annual dental exams and cleanings, you can help prevent advanced dental disease.
Healthy Dental Habits Start at Home
By providing your dog or cat with an appropriate diet, dental chews, and routine tooth brushing, you can help eliminate plaque and tartar buildup in their mouths. Plaque and tartar buildup are the most common causes of dental disease. Dental disease doesn’t just lead to bad breath or tooth loss. Left untreated, dental disease can lead to chronic pain, difficulty eating, and infections that can spread to your pet’s vital organs, like their kidneys, liver, and heart.
We’re here to help! Stop in to discuss your pet’s diet and even ask for tips on how to best brush your pet’s teeth or the best dental treats to help your pet’s dental health.
But dental care doesn’t stop there…
Dental Exams and Cleanings
Whether it’s preventative or part of a plan to help improve your cat or dog’s health, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of scheduling your pet’s yearly dental cleaning.
Before Your Pet’s Dental
Our team will take every necessary precaution to ensure your pet’s safety and comfort before performing a dental cleaning. Unlike humans, pets need to be anesthetized before a cleaning. We know that anesthetizing our loved ones can be a sensitive and scary situation, which is why we’ll complete pre-anesthetic bloodwork to ensure your pet can be anesthetized safely. Once we get the green light from the lab results, we’ll proceed with the dental cleaning.
During Your Pet’s Dental
Our veterinary team carefully monitors your pet throughout the entire procedure, from the moment anesthesia begins to their full recovery. This includes continuous tracking of heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and temperature to keep them as safe and comfortable as possible, because we know anesthesia can be a big worry for pet parents.
During the cleaning, we may take dental x-rays to check for problems below the gumline that aren’t visible during an oral exam, or perform tooth extractions if necessary to protect your pet’s long-term health and comfort. We use a gentle ultrasonic scaler for routine cleanings to effectively remove tartar and plaque and keep your pet’s mouth on track.
After Your Pet’s Dental
Once your pet’s dental cleaning is complete, our team will closely monitor your pet until they’re fully awake and comfortable. We will greet them with a smile and even some cuddles until they are fully alert and ready to go home.
Once the procedure is complete, we’ll review our findings, share before-and-after images of your pet’s teeth, and discuss any follow-up care or home dental routines to help keep their smile healthy.