Dental Health

Dental disease occurs in varying degrees in every pet.  It begins with a buildup of bacteria in your pet’s mouth, which combines with saliva and food debris between the tooth and gum and causes plaque formulations.  As the bacteria grow in the plaque and calcium salts are deposited, that plaque then turns to tartar.

The bacteria and their by-products that are in plaque act on periodontal tissues, resulting in destruction directly, as well as inciting an inflammatory response from the pet’s immune system.

Periodontal disease, if left untreated, affects the tissues that support the teeth, eventually leading to oral pain, tooth loss and systemic disease.

The bacteria that builds up in a mouth severely affected by periodontal disease can seed the bloodstream and damage other organs such as the heart, liver or kidneys.

Warning signs of oral disease include bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face or mouth and depression.

Broken teeth are a common issue in dogs, while painful resorptive lesions are a leading cause of oral pain in cats.

If your pet is found to have dental disease, recommended treatment may include a dental cleaning under general anesthesia.  Your pets teeth will be scaled to remove plaque and tartar and polished to provide a smooth surface that is more difficult for bacteria to adhere to. 

Tooth extraction may also be necessary in some cases of dental disease, for example if the root of the tooth is no longer healthy or if there is a fracture or a resorptive lesion present.  This is also done under general anesthesia, and with appropriate nerve blocks and pain management.  It is considerably less painful to have a diseased tooth extracted than to allow it to remain.

Prevention of dental disease can be started at home - brushing your pets teeth with animal specific enzymatic toothpaste on a regular basis can help prevent the build-up of tartar.  Bi-annual veterinary check-ups which include dental examinations are also recommended.