Dental disease is one of the most common medical problems in our family friends. Fortunately, it's a problem that can be managed and treated. Of course, like dental problems in humans, it's better to treat early. Periodontal disease affecting the gums and supporting tissues is quite common and is the leading cause of tooth loss in pets.


Did you know that ........
       

  Bad breath is not normal !!

  Oral disease is the number one health problem diagnosed in dogs and cats. 
 

  And by age three, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease. 


   

  The infection caused by periodontal disease may enter the bloodstream and affect the heart, kidneys and liver.

The dental cleaning or dental prophy is a multifacted procedure. In many aspects, it is quite similar to our own dental cleaning at our dentist's office. The glaring differences are 1) the need for general anesthesia to perform a proper cleaning on our pets and 2) the greater degree of periodontal disease typically found in our pets.

After preanesthetic evaluation and the induction of a light plane of anesthesia, the teeth and oral cavity are examined closely for evidence of oral cancer, tooth damage, periodontal disease, etc..
Any fractured or damaged teeth are evaluated and/or x-rayed to determine the best course of action.

If an extraction is required, a local anesthetic (Novacaine) is injected to numb the area prior to the extraction.  The teeth are scaled to remove the heavy tartar and calculus using an ultrasonic scaler. This is followed by hand scaling to remove bacteria and plaque beneath the gumline (the main reason anesthesia is required!).
Once the teeth are clean, they are polished with a low speed handpiece to smooth the enamel surface to help resist tartar formation & attachment. Fluoride is then painted heavily on all tooth surfaces and allowed to soak for several minutes prior to rinsing. If elected, a barrier sealant is then applied to further slow tartar formation in the future. If indicated, antibiotics and pain medication are administered according to the patient's needs. They are gently awakened from the light plane of anesthesia and may generally go home within a matter of hours.

The pictures on the right and below are examples of BEFORE and AFTER photographs of two patients receiving dental cleanings. Both have significant periodontal disease although both were fairly young at the time of these procedures. When you consider what dogs and cats are inclined to put in their mouths and their lack of personal hygiene, it's not surprising their mouths get so bad so young. Could you imagine if you didn't brush your teeth (much less floss!) for a few years? Not a pretty image!