Dental Care
Healthy teeth and gums do more than just keep your pet’s breath fresh. Routine dental cleanings are an integral part of preventive health care. Plaque and tartar build-up on the teeth can lead to periodontal disease, which in turn can have far reaching effects on your pet’s health. Woodland Springs Veterinary Hospital offers complete dental care procedures for your pet, including routine cleanings, examinations and tooth extractions.
February is National Pet Dental Health Month! Click here for a special dental prophy offer from Woodland Springs Veterinary Hospital.
Why Your Pet Needs Regular Cleanings
Periodontal disease is caused by the build-up of bacteria and plaque on your pet’s teeth. It’s extremely common - more than 80 percent of dogs and cats have this problem by the age of 4 - but it’s also highly preventable. If left untreated, periodontal disease can cause bacteria to spread from the mouth into the blood and damage the heart, liver, kidneys and other organs. If your pet already has periodontal disease, you may see the following signs:
- Discomfort while chewing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Drooling
- Bad breath
- Inflamed or bleeding gums
What's Next?
A professional dental cleaning is the safest, most effective way to remove plaque and tartar from your pet’s teeth and reduce the risk of periodontal disease. A veterinary dental cleaning requires a general anesthetic (in order to keep your pet still and comfortable), and, consequently, a day’s hospitalization.
Each dental cleaning begins with a physical examination. This helps us identify any potential health problems that could complicate the administration of anesthesia. Once your pet is given an anesthetic, we begin by removing tartar from the teeth using a hand scaler. A periodontal probe is then used to check for pockets under the gumline where periodontal disease and bad breath start. Next, an ultrasonic scaler is used to clean above the gumline and a curette is used to clean and smooth the teeth under the gumline. Your pet’s teeth are then polished, resulting in a smooth surface. As a last step, we wash the gums with an anti-bacterial solution. This helps delay tartar buildup, both under the gumline and on the crown of the tooth.
Dental Care At Home
We recommend your pet receive a full dental cleaning every six to 12 months. However, we encourage you to keep up with your pet’s dental health at home. We recommend C.E.T. home dental products as part of your pet's home dental care program. C.E.T.'s chews, toothpaste and toothbrushes are easy to use and promote good dental health. Our staff members can instruct you on how brush your pet’s teeth and can answer any questions you might have about your pet’s dental health.