Dentistry

  According to Hills science Diet resaerch(2010) By age 3, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs will have some sign of dental disease.  Plaque and tarter build up on teeth and around the gumline may contribute to future health problems. Periodontal disease is the major cause of tooth loss in pets and may spread infections to the liver, heart, lung, kidneys, and even the brain.Dental and oral health is a necessary and vital key to keeping your pet healthy. Keeping your pet’s teeth and gums healthy will add years to their life and keep them free of oral pain. A dental should routinely be performed every 1-2 years, although toy and small breed dogs may need their teeth cleaned more frequently. During a dental cleaning, the heavy layers of tartar and calculus are removed from the teeth using an ultrasonic scaler (what human oral hygenists use). Most importantly, the sub-gingival (“under” the gums) tooth is also cleaned, which you simply can’t achieve on an awake patient. After polishing the teeth we apply a product called Ora-Vet to each tooth. The Ora-Vet binds to the tooth and prevents tartar and bacteria from binding to it, so we can keep the teeth pearly white for even longer. Antibiotics may be prescribed for infections around the gum line or any abscesses that we find. Pain medications are also prescribed if necessary. We use digital radiology at Dearborn Animal Clinic to help diagnose problems not seen on a visual exam of the mouth. Some conditions that can be diagnosed with radiology are tooth root abscesses, retained or impacted teeth, broken tooth roots, jaw fractures, and bone infections or cancer. At home dental care products are commonly recommended after dental procedures to extend the length of time between cleanings and to help keep your pet as healthy as possible. The use of oral health products at home such as Ora-Vet or CET Hextra chews will help to slow the buildup of tarter and the formation of calculus (mineralized plaque and tarter). We recommend that you continue applying Ora-Vet weekly to help keep your pet’s teeth clean. It’s easy to apply and takes less than a minute.