When your pet is admitted to the hospital for a dental cleaning, it is usually after a recent physical exam that indicated that your pet had some level of periodontal disease, plaque accumulation or gingivitis. Studies have shown that 85% of all dogs and cats over one year old have some degree of periodontal disease. Imagine what our mouths would look like if we never brushed!!

Once your pet has been cleared for surgery, he/she is given an intramuscular injection of a sedative/pain reliever. A few minutes later, your pet drifts off to sleep. A tube is placed in the trachea (wind pipe) to assist with breathing, and your pet stays asleep by breathing gas and oxygen through that same tube. A front leg is shaved so the technician can insert a catheter into your pet's vein.  Through this catheter, your pet will receive fluids to maintain blood pressure which helps deliver blood to the body's organs. Your pet is observed at all times by a technician, and machines measure heart rate, oxygen saturation, and carbon dioxide levels.

The supragingival (above the gumline) plaque and tartar are removed using special forceps, hand instruments, and ultrasonic scaling equipment. We examine individual teeth for mobility, fractures, malocclusion, and periodontal disease. Special curettes are used to probe the subgingival (below the gumline) spaces as well as remove any deposits.

Regardless of how careful we are during the cleaning phase, minor "scratches" of the tooth surface occur. Polishing smoothes out the "scratches" and makes it difficult for plaque to form on the tooth. Polishing paste is used on a polishing cup for this procedure. The teeth are then rinsed removing any excess paste. A fluoride rinse, oral gel, or Oravet® plaque preventive can then be used.

You play a very important role in the care of your pet's teeth.  Home care is the single most important procedure you can do to maintain your pet's oral health.  Daily brushing will dramatically increase time between teeth cleaning sessions. Plaque is constantly being made and deposited in the mouth. Proper home care can keep plaque buildup under control. The goal of dental home care is to remove plaque from tooth surfaces and gingival sulci before it mineralizes into calculus, a process that occurs within days of a teeth cleaning. 

Home care is best started at a young age before the adult teeth erupt. The perfect time to introduce dental home care is at the first puppy or kitten visit. The client-animal bond as well as the client-veterinary bond is enhanced when daily brushing is performed following instructions given at the animal hospital.

Please call today for an appointment to have your pet's teeth checked or to consult with one of our staff members about proper home care.