Make Good Dental Care For Dogs And Cats A Priority

Keeping with our theme this month of good oral hygiene and dental care for your pets, we decided to write a little bit about the importance of dental cleaning. Before we get to cleaning though, let's quickly cover what leads to tartar build-up and eventually dental disease. The following factors can contribute to dental disease in your dog or cat:

Age: Dental disease becomes more common as your pet get's older
Breed: Some breeds have teeth that are overcrowded making it more difficult to keep teeth and gums clean.
Food: Wet or sticky food can lead to a more rapid buildup of plaque.

If your pet has developed tartar, it's time to consider a dental cleaning. We offer state of the art dental cleanings that include full mouth dental radiographs. If you haven't had your dog or cat in to see a professional for their cleaning, please consider doing so with us. 

Our annual dental cleanings for dogs and cats include:

1. Complete oral exam to identify and periodontal pockets, tooth fractures, oral masses, or other dental issues that should be addressed while under anesthesia.
2. Full mouth digital dental radiographs to identify any issues not visible on oral exam. These may include root abscesses, fractured roots, periodontal pockets, and bone loss. Radiographs ensure we are addressing ALL dental issues even unseen below the gum line to provide complete oral health.
3. Both hand and ultrasonic scaling to remove tartar/plaque both on the teeth and subgingival.
4. Polishing and fluoride treatment.
5. Pocket treatments, extractions, and bone grafting material to encourage bone regrowth at extraction sites- these are dental treatments are performed only done when necessary.
6. Home care options - Once a dental is complete, home care options are discussed to make sure each pet receives the dental care at home that can slow the process of periodontal disease promote overall dental health.

If you suspect that your pet has more serious issues with gingivitis, consult your veterinarian. There are many treatment options centered around diet that can positively impact your pet's dental health.

Make a dental cleaning appointment for your pet today!

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Dental Cleaning - Before

Dental Cleaning - After

http://www.avdc.org/periodontaldisease.html