DENTAL HEALTH CARE
Would you let years go by between visits to the dentist? Probably not! Your pet's dental health is just as important to his or her overall health as your dental health is to your general health.
Why Dental Care?
Dental care of dogs and cats is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of pet health care.
In fact, a recent AAHA study showed that approximately two thirds of pet owners do not provide the dental care that is recommended as essential by veterinarians.
What's more, the American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by age three.
Dental disease doesn't affect just the mouth. It can lead to more serious health problems including heart, lung and kidney disease, which makes it all the more important that you provide your pets with proper dental care from the start.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth that takes hold in progressive
stages. It starts out as a bacterial film called plaque. The bacteria attach to the teeth. When the
bacteria die they can be calcified by calcium in saliva. This forms a hard, rough substance called
tartar or calculus which allows more plaque to accumulate.
Initially, plaque is soft and brushing or chewing hard food and toys can dislodge it. If left to spread, plaque can lead to gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, causing them to become red and swollen, and to bleed easily.
As plaque and calculus develop below the gum line, professional cleaning will be needed to help manage it. If the plaque and tartar buildup continues unchecked, infection can form around the root of the tooth.
In the final stages of periodontal disease, the tissues surrounding the tooth are destroyed, the bony socket holding the tooth erodes and the tooth becomes loose. This is a very painful process for your best friend, but these problems can be averted before they even start.
Dental Care at the Veterinary Clinic
There are two critical components of your pet's veterinary dental care: oral examinations and dental
cleanings. Veterinary dental care begins at the puppy and kitten life stage.
AAHA recommends that veterinarians evaluate puppies and kittens for problems related to the deciduous (baby) teeth, missing or extra teeth, swellings and oral development.
As your pet ages, your veterinarian will look for developmental anomalies, the accumulation of plaque and tartar, periodontal disease and oral tumors.