Comprehensive Animal Dentistry in Clarkson, WA

The Importance of Veterinary Animal Dentistry

Dentistry is a rapidly growing area of veterinary science. More and more, we are understanding the significant effect dental health can have on the overall health of the animals we treat.

Just like humans, pets’ teeth need looking after too! The health of their teeth and gums has a significant impact on their overall quality of life. Imagine how your mouth would feel and smell if you never brushed your teeth. Imagine having a really bad toothache and not being able to tell anyone about it!

Dental disease typically begins with a build-up of plaque, consisting of bacteria, food particles, and saliva components, on the teeth. Plaque sticks to the tooth surface above and below the gum line and, if not removed, will calcify into tartar (also known as calculus). This appears as a yellow-brown material on the teeth. Over time, the plaque and tartar can result in periodontal disease, which can result in irreversible changes to the teeth and supportive structures.

Periodontal disease can result in local problems, such as red and inflamed gums, bad breath, and the loss of teeth. There is also growing evidence that periodontal disease can be associated with disease in distant organs, including the heart, liver, and kidneys. Ultimately, dental disease is more than just a cosmetic issue – it can be a cause of significant illness and pain in dogs and cats.

Dental

Just like humans, our pets are vulnerable to gum disease and problems with their teeth. Alarmingly, it is estimated that up to 80% of dogs and 70% of cats suffer from some form of dental disease by the age of three.

When there is a buildup of bacteria, food particles, and saliva on the teeth, plaque is formed. Plaque sticks to the tooth surface above and below the gum line and, if not removed, will calcify into tartar (also known as calculus). This appears as a yellow-brown material on the teeth. Over time the bacterial infection in tartar causes irreversible changes to occur. These include the destruction of supportive tissues and bone, resulting in red gums, bad breath, and loosening of teeth. This same bacterial infection is also a source of infection for the rest of the body (such as the kidney, liver, and heart) and can make your pet seriously ill. Ultimately, dental disease results in many pets unnecessarily suffering tooth loss, gum infection, and pain. It also has the potential to shorten your pet’s lifespan.

Common Signs of Dental Disease Include:

• Yellow-brown tartar around the gum line
• Inflamed, red gums
• Bad breath
• Change in eating or chewing habits (especially in cats)
• Pawing at the face or mouth
• Excessive drooling
• Pain or bleeding when you touch the gums or mouth
  

If your pet is showing any of these signs of dental disease, please book an appointment to see one of our veterinarians. Early assessment and action can save your pet’s teeth!

Some animals with dental disease may show no obvious signs, particularly in the early stages. It is also important to remember that just because your pet is eating, it doesn’t mean they do not have dental pain.

How Can I Prevent Dental Disease?

Long-term control and prevention of dental disease requires regular home care. The best way to begin this is to acclimatise your pet from a young age. Dental home care may include:

As with most things in life, when it comes to dental disease, prevention is definitely better than cure. Regular and frequent attention to your pet's teeth may avoid the need for a professional dental clean under anaesthetic and will also improve your pet's overall health.

What Does a Professional Dental Clean Involve?

It is similar to a scale and polish done by a dentist for us; however, unlike us, our pets won’t sit still or open their mouths to allow a comprehensive examination or cleaning of their teeth. For this reason, our pets need to have a general anaesthetic for a professional dental assessment and clean. Your pet will need to be assessed by one of our veterinarians. The degree of dental disease will be assessed to determine what type of treatment is required.

The assessment will also include a physical exam and possibly blood tests and urine tests to ensure they are healthy prior to having an anaesthetic. Once anaesthetised, we can give the teeth a thorough cleaning using our specialised dental equipment. When your pet goes home, we will also discuss methods of reducing dental disease in the future.

What if My Pet Has Dental Disease?

Firstly, you should have your pet's teeth examined by one of our veterinarians on a regular basis and, if necessary, follow up with a professional dental clean. Your pet needs to be anaesthetised to carry out a thorough dental examination and to clean all teeth without distressing them. Once anaesthetised, a complete dental examination is carried out. This process involves charting all present teeth and evaluating their condition, including the degree of tartar, gingivitis (gum inflammation), and any pockets in the gums around the teeth.

Our veterinarians will then remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline using specialised instruments, including an ultrasonic scaler, just like a dentist uses for our teeth. The teeth are then polished using a dental polisher and specialised fine-grade paste. If the dental disease is not severe, the procedure will end here. However, if certain teeth are so severely affected they cannot be saved, extractions will be necessary.

In some cases, gum surgery is required to close the holes left behind when a tooth is extracted, and dissolvable stitches are used for this procedure. Once all dental work is completed, your pet may be given an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory injection, the anaesthetic gas is turned off, and your pet is allowed to wake up. Pets are generally able to go home on the same day.

Following a professional dental clean, a plan needs to be implemented to minimise build-up of tartar again, and the nature of this will depend on the severity of your pet’s dental disease. This may involve regular tooth brushing, feeding special dental chews, or a special diet. It is recommended that all pets be examined 6 months after dental cleaning to determine the effectiveness of your dental care routine.

Keep your pet smiling and healthy—call The Veterinary Hospital North on 08 61851308 to book their dental check-up or cleaning today.