Pet Dentistry: Why Dogs (and Cats) Need Dental Care Too

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An ultrasonic instrument is used to separate the plaque from the teeth.  It sprays cooling water at the time it works it's cleaning magic on the teeth.  After the teeth are "scaled" a light buffing is done to polish the teeth.

Often, an animal will need a root canal procedure performed or require a tooth to be capped. While many pet owners do not expect their pet to have these services performed, they can and should be done in certain circumstances. Gingival plastic surgery can be done, as well. Sometimes the best thing to do is to remove a severely damaged or markedly loose tooth.  Once the gum heals, the pet seldom shows any signs of missing the offending tooth or teeth.

As the dog awakens, the endotracheal tube is removed and antibiotics are prepared for administration at home for 7 to 10 days. Further instructions are given to the owner as to beneficial oral care for the dog.  Hopefully s/he won't need further dentistry; but there are some patients who need ultrasonic cleaning almost every year.

Be sure to take a good look in your dog's (or cat's) mouth and inspect it for any foul looking or smelling characteristics. If you are suspicious that something isn't right, make an appointment with your veterinarian for a dental checkup.

Both you and your pet will feel better when oral hygiene is an important part of your pet health care routine. There is no excuse for allowing a pet's oral health status to deteriorate to conditions like the dog on the right. It's up to you to keep a look-out for teeth and gum problems.

Image: TheGiantVermin / via Flickr