Dentistry is a rapidly growing area of veterinary science. We have seen a greater awareness over the last 25 years of its importance to the overall health of the pets we treat.
Just like humans, our pets teeth need looking after too! The health of their teeth and gums has a significant impact on their overall quality of life.
Imagine how your mouth would feel, and smell, if you never brushed your teeth.
Imagine having a really bad toothache and not being able to tell anyone about it!
Dental disease begins with a build up of bacteria in your pets mouth. Bacteria, combined with saliva and food debris, can cause plaque to accumulate on the tooth. As calcium salts are deposited, plaque turns to tartar (brown or yellow material starting near the gum line of the tooth). Without proper preventive or therapeutic care, plaque and tartar build-up leads to periodontal disease, which affects the tissues and structures supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease can cause oral pain, tooth loss and even heart or kidney problems.
Common signs of dental disease, in order of severity, include:
Yellow-brown tartar around the gumline
Inflamed, red gums
Bad breath
Change in eating or chewing habits
Pawing at the face or mouth
Excessive drooling
Pain or bleeding when you touch the gums or mouth
If your pet is showing any of these signs of dental disease please book an appointment to see one of our veterinarians. Early assessment and action can save your pets teeth!
Important facts about Dental Disease!
Dental disease can result in bad breath, painful chewing and even the loss of teeth. Bacteria that is harboured in the plaque and infected gums can also spread to the heart, kidneys and liver which can significantly shorten the life span of your pet.
Professional dental cleaning by your Veterinarian is required to remove plaque and tartar from a pet’s teeth and to assess the health of the mouth. This procedure is performed on the day of your appointment and records kept on your pets file for future reference.
How can I minimise dental disease?
Long-term control and prevention of dental disease requires regular home care too. The best way to begin this is to acclimatise your dog or cat from a young age. Dental home care may include:
Brushing teeth daily – just like us! This is the best form of dental hygiene. Pet toothbrushes and toothpaste are now available. Please do not use human toothpaste formulas as they are not designed to be swallowed and may be toxic to your pet.
Feeding dental diets and dental treats/chews, ask your vet about options. This can help reduce the accumulation of tartar.
Use dental toys, enzymatic chews and water additives, all of which may help keep the teeth clean.
Regular and frequent attention to your pets teeth may delay the need for a professional dental clean under anaesthetic, and will also improve your pets overall health.
Following a professional dental clean, we implement a plan to minimise build up of tartar again, this will depend on the severity of your pets dental disease
It is recommended that all pets be examined 6 months (equivalent to approximately three and a half human years) after dental cleaning to determine the effectiveness of your dental care routine
What does a professional dental clean involve?
It is the same as a scale and polish done by a dentist for us. However, unlike us, our pets won’t sit still or open their mouth to allow a comprehensive cleaning of their teeth. For this reason our dogs, cats even bunnies need to have a general anaesthetic for a professional dental clean. Your pet will need to be assessed by one of our veterinarians. The degree of dental disease will be assessed to determine if extractions, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories will be required.
The assessment may also include a physical exam, blood tests and urine tests to ensure they are healthy prior to having an anaesthetic. Once anaesthetised, we can give the teeth a thorough cleaning using our specialised dental equipment. When your pet goes home we will also discuss methods of reducing dental disease in the future.
Following a professional dental clean, we implement a plan to minimise build up of tartar again, this will depend on the severity of your pets dental disease
It is recommended that all pets be examined 6 months (equivalent to approximately three and a half human years) after dental cleaning to determine the effectiveness of your dental care routine
If you have any questions about dental care or professional cleaning or wish to make an appointment please do not hesitate to contact us.
The health of their teeth and gums has a significant impact on their overall quality of life.
