In an added effort to provide your pet with quality care, we offer pet dental services in our veterinary office. It is estimated that 80% of pets exhibit the beginning stages of periodontal disease by age 3, which is why dental exams and teeth cleanings are essential. Also, studies indicate that pets with good oral hygiene tend to live 2 to 4 years longer than pets who neglect dental care. While periodontal disease is entirely preventable, when left untreated it can lead to cardiac disease, kidney infection, liver infection, or stroke.

Reasons For Regular Dental Check-Ups: 

• Avoid tooth loss due to periodontal disease
• Help your pet avert unnecessary pain
• Help your pet maintain healthy and functional teeth
• Improve foul breath
• Prevent potential damage to the brain, heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys

What Does a Pet Dental Cleaning Involve?

Pets can experience many of the same dental issues that humans do, including gingivitis, periodontal disease, necessary tooth extraction, and deep scaling. Regular dental exams and cleanings can help you avoid the costliness of involved dental procedures and can help prevent your pet from unnecessary suffering.

Pet dental cleanings are similar to human dental cleanings and involve teeth cleaning and polishing. During your pet’s teeth cleaning, a dental technician will gently clean the surface of the teeth with an ultrasonic scaler that cleans using the vibration of sound waves and water. The vibrations break apart calcified plaque (tartar) on tooth surfaces and kill microbes. After scaling the teeth, the technician lightly buffs and polishes your pet’s teeth to produce a smooth surface to which plaque has a harder time adhering to. A fluoride treatment completes the dental cleaning.

After the cleaning, we will provide you with a comprehensive analysis of your pet’s oral health. You will receive at-home oral hygiene tips specific to your pet, and if any serious dental conditions exist, you will be notified prior to any treatment planning.

Some simple home hygiene tips are: 

• Brushing your pet’s teeth as little as one time a week can cut down on 50-60% of tartar build-up. 
• Dental products specifically designed for pets, including Petrodex and CET, can help protect gums and lessen tartar. 
• Dry pet food is better for teeth than canned food; it causes abrasion to tooth surfaces when chewed, helping remove tartar build-up. 
• There are many pet toys that support dental health. Buying your pets these toys not only entertains them, but also helps to clean your pet's teeth.

Remember, creating a smooth clean tooth surface makes it more difficult for tartar and plaque to build up!

If you would like to schedule a professional dental cleaning for your pet, call our office to schedule an appointment, and allow your pet to experience a healthy smile!