Dental Cleanings: Why Your Pet's Smile Matters

Dental disease is one of the most common health problems we see in dogs and cats. It can cause pain, tooth loss, and infection, and bacteria from the mouth may affect other organs over time. Many pets hide mouth pain, so problems often go unnoticed at home.

 

Signs to watch for

- Bad breath

- Red or bleeding gums

- Yellow or brown buildup on the teeth

- Chewing on one side, dropping food, or reluctance to eat

- Pawing at the mouth

 

Why anesthesia?

Much of dental disease happens below the gumline, where it can't be seen or cleaned while a pet is awake. Anesthesia allows us to safely and thoroughly clean above and below the gumline, examine every tooth, take dental X-rays, and treat problems without causing stress or pain. Your pet is monitored closely throughout the procedure.

 

What a professional cleaning includes

- Pre-anesthetic exam and testing as recommended

- Scaling and polishing of all tooth surfaces

- Dental X-rays and a full oral exam

- Treatment of problems such as damaged or infected teeth

 

Care at home

Daily tooth brushing and veterinarian-recommended dental products help keep teeth healthier between cleanings.

 

Wondering about your pet's dental health? Ask our team at your next visit.