Dental Care
About
Dental care for pets is similar to the care humans receive when visiting their local dentist. Just as we prioritize oral hygiene and regular check-ups, pets also need routine care to maintain healthy teeth and gums, prevent dental diseases, and address any oral health issues before they become serious. As veterinarians, our goal is to improve the health of your pet’s teeth, gums, and overall oral cavity, while preventing dental diseases and other health complications that can arise from poor oral hygiene.
Through regular wellness exams and digital radiography, our veterinary team can thoroughly assess your pet’s oral health, checking for signs of tartar buildup, gum disease, and other dental issues. This allows us to diagnose and recommend the most effective treatments. Our dental care services offer a comprehensive range of treatments for your pet, including:
- Dental Cleaning and Scaling: This professional cleaning removes plaque and tartar from your pet’s teeth and gum line, with scaling to eliminate hardened tartar. This process helps prevent gum disease (periodontal disease), tooth decay, and bad breath, promoting overall oral health.
- Polishing: After cleaning, polishing smooths the surfaces of your pet’s teeth, helping to prevent plaque buildup and making the teeth more resistant to future accumulation.
- Dental X-rays: This application of digital radiography helps identify underlying issues, such as fractures, tooth root problems, or abscesses, that may not be visible to the naked eye.
- Extractions: If a tooth is severely decayed, infected, or causing pain, extraction may be necessary to relieve discomfort and prevent further infection.
- Periodontal Care: Gum disease and bad breath are often signs of periodontal disease, which may require additional cleaning below the gum-line, antibiotics, or even surgery to address infected areas.
- Preventive Care: We focus on educating pet owners about preventive care practices that support long-term dental health.
Importance
Imagine skipping a check-up with your family dentist for 5 to 8 years—think of the potential infections or health problems that could arise during that time. Since dogs and cats age much faster than humans, skipping even a single year of care can cause more harm than you might expect. Aside from the well-known complications like gum disease and tooth decay, dental issues can also affect other vital organs in the body. To elaborate, harmful bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and spread to other parts of the body, potentially impacting vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver, and more. Common signs of dental issues include bad breath, red or swollen gums, difficulty chewing, discolouration or loss of teeth, plaque buildup, and even ulcers on the gums or tongue. Ultimately, poor dental hygiene can lead to systemic infections, causing widespread damage and negatively impacting your pet’s overall health and quality of life.
That said, investing in your pet’s dental care is crucial to promoting their oral health and overall well-being. Along with professional treatments, taking proactive steps at home is essential to ensure your pet continues to receive the ongoing care they deserve. So, don’t wait—give your pet the care they deserve today!
