We offer dental services as one of our primary services for pet owners. Your pet can’t brush their own teeth, so they require at-home care and an annual complete oral health assessment and treatment (COHAT) to keep them in top health!
Preventing Dental Disease
The best way to prevent Dental Disease is to bring your pet in once a year for a professional cleaning.
Your pet can become irritable if they start having dental problems. It may be time for professional teeth cleaning at the veterinarian’s office if you notice any of these symptoms:?
Swollen gums- Pain while chewing
- Bad breath
- Food falling out of pet’s mouth
- Bleeding gums
- Discoloration of the teeth
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease can be very painful. It may lead to:
- loose teeth
- abscesses
- bone loss
- infection
As bacterial growth continues to increase, the bacteria may enter the bloodstream which can cause infection of the heart valves (endocarditis), liver, and kidneys.?
If treated by your veterinarian with specialized instruments and procedures, periodontal disease can be slowed or even stopped.
Dental Hygiene
Dental exams, routine use of dental chews, specially designed dental-health diets, and professional dental treatments are important for a healthy mouth. If the tartar is not removed, bacteria builds up under the gums and leads to irreversible periodontal disease.
Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment
A COHAT involves several steps that are primarily based on the findings from a comprehensive examination of a pet under anesthesia. This prevents the pet from feeling anxious and protects their airways and lungs from harmful bacteria. The aim of a COHAT goes beyond simply cleaning, polishing, and probing each tooth; it also focuses on preventing future dental issues. By taking radiographs of each dental arcade, we can evaluate the areas beneath the gumline and assess the roots of every tooth, facilitating early detection and prevention of potential problems. This information is crucial in determining whether any teeth require treatment or extraction to avoid ongoing disease or infection. During the examination, a dental chart is maintained to document the condition of each tooth, ensuring that this important information is available for your pet’s future care.
Foul breath can be the tip of the iceberg. Like humans, pets' mouths harbor bacteria, and without regular at-home brushing and professional cleanings, plaque and tartar can build up, leading to gum recession and more serious issues. Plaque begins to form just hours after brushing, and tartar allows bacteria to thrive unchecked. If dental disease goes untreated, it can result in local infections, abscesses, and systemic health problems that affect your pet’s heart, liver, and kidneys. Learn more here.
Regular COHAT procedures and professional teeth cleanings are crucial for preventing these serious health risks. Contact us to schedule an initial exam and create a treatment plan for professional cleaning and ongoing dental care plan.
At-Home Dental Care
Taking care of your pet's teeth at home will make vet dental visits go that much easier. We can recommend products that you can use to care for your pet's teeth at home. Once your pet gets used to it, brushing their teeth once a day can become a fun part of being a pet owner — and it helps to prevent plaque from building up on their teeth over the long run.? Check out some VOHC-approved products.
If you’d like to schedule a dental cleaning, call our office at (858) 454-0354.