Your pet’s dental health is extremely important. Veterinary dental care is about more than just preventing “doggy breath”—regular dental care can help prevent serious diseases and infections. Routine dental cleanings are a vital part of your pet’s preventive 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. Gingivitis can cause periodontal disease, a bacterial infection that, if left untreated, can potentially damage your pet’s kidneys, heart, and other organs. Regular dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar and prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease.
What Happens During a Cleaning
Your pet’s dental cleaning is far different than the same procedure you undergo each year at your dentist’s office. Anesthesia is required to keep your pet safe and still during the cleaning. Prior to any dental cleaning, we perform a thorough physical exam and a series of blood tests to ensure that your pet is healthy enough for this procedure. These tests also help us develop an anesthetic protocol that is specific for your pet.
Once anesthesia is administered, the cleaning process begins. We count and chart the teeth and take full-mouth radiographs with our in-house dental X-ray equipment. Because two-thirds of the tooth is under the gumline, dental radiographs can reveal things like abscesses, bone loss and impacted teeth that need to be addressed.
We use modern and safe ultrasonic equipment to clean each tooth thoroughly, both above and below the gumline. The trained dental technicians polish your 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.
Dental Care at Home
Your pet’s dental care doesn’t end after he or she leaves the hospital. A member of our team can show you how to brush your pet’s teeth at home. This is an excellent way to prevent plaque and tartar build-up, promote good oral hygiene and, most of all, bond with your pet.
Need to schedule a dental exam or cleaning for your best friend? Give us a call at 718-933-1002. We’ll turn your pet’s frown upside down!
