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| DENTISTRY How would you feel if you didn’t brush your teeth for years? Gross? That’s how your pet’s mouth feels- but it doesn’t have to. Here are answers to common question about dental care. |
 | Why are regular dental | |
| treatments important for my pet? |
Pets, like people, need regular
dental care. Serious oral health
problems can be addressed and
prevented when you have your pet’s
teeth professionally treated at a
veterinary hospital on a regular
basis.
Dental disease begins with
plaque, a soft, colorless, sticky film
that results from the combination of
food debris, bacteria, and saliva. If
plaque is not removed, it mineralizes
and forms calculus. You may have
noticed this hard material on your
pet’s teeth. If plaque and calculus
are allowed to build up and are not
removed, they can lead to gingivitis,
an inflammation of the gum line,
which is painful for your pet. It also
encourages bacterial toxins to form
along the gum line. At this stage,
gingivitis is reversible with
professional dental care and regular
brushing.
If gingivitis is left untreated,
periodontal disease, a process that
causes breakdown of the teeth’s
supporting structures (the
components that keep teeth in
place), will result. This will cause
oral pain, loose teeth, decreased
appetite, and more severe oral
infection. As periodontal disease
progresses, the gums recede,
allowing bacteria to travel through
the bloodstream to other parts of the
body. These bacteria can cause
disease in the heart, liver, and
kidneys.
| Why does my pet have | |
| to be anesthetized? |
To perform a thorough, safe, and
comfortable dental procedure,
your pet must be anesthetized.
To help ensure your pet’s safety
during treatment, we use the
safest anesthetic agents
available. A technician will
continually monitor your pet’s
temperature, pulse, respiration,
and other vital functions
throughout the procedure until
recovery from anesthesia.
Because safety is our primary
concern, our surgical suite and
laboratory are equipped with
several diagnostic instruments to
assist us in monitoring your pet’s
condition at all times. Depending
on our assessment of your pet’s
mouth during physical
examination, we may recommend
several types of testing, including
leukemia & aids screening, blood
tests, heartworm testing, and
other diagnostics to further
reduce anesthetic risk.
| How can I tell if my pet has | |
| oral disease? |
Signs of oral disease include:
• Pawing at the mouth
• Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Darkened, stained
teeth
• Pus along gum lines and
around teeth
• Excessive drooling
• Sensitivity around the mouth
• Loose, broken, or
abscessed teeth
• Persistent foul mouth odor
• Loss of appetite
If your pet exhibits any of these
symptoms, please contact us at
631-979-9035
A great way to get started is our “Spring Winter Special Dental Exam” through
February 2008 (includes free toothbrush starter kit) for ONLY $38.43! If you
have any questions or would like to schedule a dental exam, please contact
our hospital at 631-979-9035.
Once tranquilized, we will thoroughly examine your pet’s teeth, gums, lips,tongue, and throat. Each tooth is checked for calculus, cavities, fractures,
looseness, infection, or other problems that may cause pain or threaten your
pet’s health. Our doctors may also recommend dental radiographs (X-rays) to
detect signs of infection or damage to the tooth structure. The best way to
keep your pet happy and healthy is to prevent oral disease from developing.
Annual physical examinations, blood testing, parasite prevention, dental
treatments, vaccinations, and a healthy diet will promote good overall health
and may increase your pet’s lifespan.
February 2008 (includes free toothbrush starter kit) for ONLY $38.43! If you
have any questions or would like to schedule a dental exam, please contact
our hospital at 631-979-9035.
| What does a dental exam involve? |
Once tranquilized, we will thoroughly examine your pet’s teeth, gums, lips,
looseness, infection, or other problems that may cause pain or threaten your
pet’s health. Our doctors may also recommend dental radiographs (X-rays) to
detect signs of infection or damage to the tooth structure. The best way to
keep your pet happy and healthy is to prevent oral disease from developing.
Annual physical examinations, blood testing, parasite prevention, dental
treatments, vaccinations, and a healthy diet will promote good overall health
and may increase your pet’s lifespan.