Pet Dental Treatments

Overall, the most common pathology encountered daily by veterinarians is dental disease, which has traditionally been overlooked, but in the past two decades, veterinarians and owners have become more aware of it.

Commonly affects smaller breed dogs but can practically affect any dog and is frequently observed in cats. Most pets have periodontal disease by the time they are three years of age. It is a progressive disease of the supporting tissues surrounding teeth and the leading cause of early tooth loss.

Periodontal disease starts when bacteria combine with food particles to form plaque on the teeth. Within days, minerals in the saliva bond with the plaque to form tartar, a hard substance that adheres to the teeth. The bacteria work their way under the gums and cause gingivitis—inflammation of the gums.

Once under the gums, bacteria destroy the supporting tissue around the tooth, leading to tooth loss. This condition is known as periodontitis.

Gingivitis and periodontitis make up the changes referred to as periodontal disease. The bacteria associated with periodontal disease can also travel in the bloodstream to infect the heart, kidneys, and liver.

We recommend addressing this condition early and not wait until periodontal disease is well established. It means performing regular dental procedures when we observe tartar accumulation (when the teeth appear yellow).

Brushing your pet’s teeth daily is the best way to prevent periodontal disease. Once weekly won’t do the job! It might sound mission impossible, but early introduction and very gradual training will make this task easy. Only veterinary toothpaste must be used because it doesn’t contain xylitol or fluoride, and it is safe if swallowed.

Additionally, dental prescription diets such as t/d Hills or Dental RC may be beneficial, in addition to specific treats & antiseptic oral solutions. However, these can only assist; nothing can replace daily tooth brushing.

The treatment of choice is either tooth extraction or endodontic treatment. The latter is not routinely performed as it has certain limitations, but it is nevertheless possible.

This condition mainly affects cats and is diagnosed with clinical examination, dental examination under anesthesia, and oral radiology. It’s advisable to perform full mouth X-rays on all cats that undergo dental treatment. Extractions are recommended in most of these cases, but this is not absolute and depends on the radiographic findings.

If your pets’ baby teeth don’t fall until a certain age, the dentition becomes overcrowded and loses its alignment, resulting in the early appearance of periodontal disease, gum trauma, and pain. These teeth must be extracted.

– Dental scale & polish is performed under general anesthesia.
– Before the procedure, a blood test is performed to ensure your pet’s organs work well and that the anesthesia is safe.
– During a dental cleaning:

• Plaque and tartar are removed from a pet’s teeth using an ultrasonic scaler and manual descaling tools & then the tooth surface is polished.
• The health of the entire mouth (tongue, gums, lips, and teeth) is assessed. A thorough dental cleaning can be accomplished only while the pet is under general anesthesia. Anesthesia frees your pet from pain during the dental procedure. It allows your veterinarian to inspect the teeth thoroughly and remove tartar from under the gums.
• Dental extractions are performed according to the dental pathology found.
• Dental x-rays are performed to access the teeth as needed.
• Post-dental treatment might be recommended, which may include antibiotics and painkillers.