Your Pet’s Dental Care
Your pet’s dental health is extremely important! Veterinary dental care is about more than just preventing “doggy breath” or “kitty breath” – regular dental care can help prevent periodontal disease, which can lead to serious bacterial infections in your dog or cat’s liver, kidneys and other organs. Our staff recommends dental cleanings if indicated as part of your pet’s overall health care plan.
Why Dental Care Is Important
Plaque and tartar build-up on your pet’s teeth can lead to gingivitis. Reddened, bleeding gums, difficulty chewing and bad breath are all signs of gingivitis. Untreated gingivitis can progress to a more advanced form of periodontal disease, a bacterial infection that, if left untreated, can cause the loss of teeth.
The same bacteria causing gingivitis and periodontal disease can be carried into the blood stream and cause damage to your pet’s kidneys, heart, liver and other organs. Regular dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar and prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Your Pet’s Dental Cleaning
Your dog or cat’s dental cleaning is far different than the same procedure you undergo each year at your dentist’s office. Because anesthesia is required to keep your pet safe and still during the cleaning, we perform a thorough physical exam and blood tests (required for pets ages 7 and older, optional, but recommended for those under 7) to ensure that your pet is healthy enough for this procedure. These tests also help us develop an individualized anesthetic protocol that is specific for your pet.
Once anesthesia is administered, the cleaning begins. We use modern and safe ultrasonic equipment to clean each tooth thoroughly, both above and below the gum line. Our specially trained dental technicians polish you pet’s teeth, which creates a smooth, lustrous surface that is more resistant to plaque build-up. Finally, a fluoride treatment is used to help strengthen the enamel and reduce tooth sensitivity.
Please call the Animal Health Center at (908)859-3045 to set up a dental examination/cleaning.
