Dental Care
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Introduction
Dental care is just as important for your pets as it is for you. By the age of two years 80-85% of pets have some degree of dental disease, most common is Periodontal Disease. Periodontal Disease affects the gums and tissue surrounding the teeth which can lead to swollen and tender gums, halitosis (bad breath), formation of puss pockets or abscesses, and even loss of teeth. Bacteria buildup can spread from abscessed teeth and infect spinal discs, heart valves, kidneys, or cause overall poor health. Checking your pet’s teeth regularly for swollen gums, plaque buildup, split or cracked teeth, or foreign bodies (i.e. foxtails, hair, string or broken pieces of toys) can help you identify early warning signs that it’s time for a dental cleaning.
Our
doctors and technicians have attended advanced classes given by a board certified veterinary dentist. These classes have furthered our understanding of dentistry and have given us the knowledge and tools needed
to provide the best care for our patients. We can now offer not only dental cleaning,
but also digital dental x-rays, bonded sealants, and oral surgery.
Preventative Care and Routine Cleanings
Pet’s teeth vary
widely by breed, age, and diet which is why no two dental procedures will be the same.
Routine cleanings will keep your pet healthy, happy, and even lead to a longer life!
Pre-Anesthetic Lab Testing
Before your
pet receives anesthetic we will take a small sample of blood to check the status of his
or her internal organs through our state-of-the-art in-house lab. Even though
your pet may seem to be in good health blood testing can reveal sub-clinical problems that are treatable when caught in time.
Anesthesia
All pets that are seen for a dental must first be sedated.
Sedation allows us to do a much more thorough job of cleaning the teeth and even getting below the gum line which is
where most problems are located. Our sedatives are chosen with your pet’s
safety in mind, and are dictated by age, weight, and physical condition. The
cost of sedation is a major reason that a dental cleaning costs more for animals than for people.
Anesthetic Monitoring
During anesthesia,
the monitoring and recording of your pet’s vital signs (such as body temperature, heart rate, and respiration, as well
as other important factors) is important. This helps ensure the safety of your
pet while undergoing anesthesia.
IV Catheter and Fluids
For the safety
of your pet he or she will have an IV catheter placed, most of the time in one of the front legs. An IV catheter allows us to administer fluids while the pet is under anesthesia helping to maintain blood
pressure, kidney function, and prevent post-operative dehydration. In addition,
in case of an emergency an IV port allows for rapid treatment.
Scaling and Polishing
To remove
tartar above and below the gum line we use the same hand instruments and ultrasonic cleaning equipment as your dentist would
use. Any deposits under the gum line and any unhealthy tissue are gently scraped
away. After the teeth are free of plaque and deposits they will be polished to
smooth down the surfaces, without polishing the plaque would return quickly. It
is important after polishing to rid the mouth of ever-present bacteria so they do not invade the gums irritated during the
cleaning. Solutions are actually flushed beneath the gum line to eliminate these
germs and prevent plaque from reoccurring as quickly.
Advanced Care
We are proud to
offer digital dental x-rays to evaluate the teeth and underlying bone to determine if more extensive dental procedures are
needed.
Broken Teeth
Pets frequently fracture their teeth which can
expose the pulp (nerve) and can lead to infection of the tooth. Fractured teeth
are painful for the pet and can take up to years for the dead teeth to fall out, by that time adjacent teeth can be affected
as well. Because of animal’s survival instincts they rarely show signs
of discomfort which is why it is important to watch for subtle changes in behavior.
If you notice your pet exhibiting difficulty eating or chewing, sensitivity to water, aversion to being touched around
the face or mouth, or refusal to play with toys then schedule a dental exam as soon as possible.
Dental Radiographs
It is important for your pet to receive periodical
radiographs to aid our veterinarians in detecting abnormalities that otherwise would go unnoticed in an exam. All fractured teeth need to be assessed with dental radiographs to determine if the teeth will be a problem
for the pet. If the fractured teeth have pulp exposed or the teeth are infected
then the affected teeth would be removed. Fractured teeth that are not infected
and the pulp is concealed are smoothed and sealed with bonded dental materials to decrease sensitivity and chances of infection.
Dental radiographs also assist our veterinarians
in determining if there is loss of bone associated with periodontal disease. With
the help of the radiographs our veterinarians can determine the extent of disease as well as the success of treatment. Periodical radiographs offer a baseline for future visits should any changes occur
in your pet’s mouth that might have gone unnoticed such as cancerous lumps or shifting of teeth.
Home Care
While regular dental cleanings by a veterinarian are necessary for healthy pet you can help at home by caring for your pets teeth daily. Some options include brushing your pet’s teeth, using oral rinses, feeding only hard dog or cat food, and utilizing special chews and toys make specifically for dental care.
Toothbrush
Just as with your
own teeth, nothing beats brushing. The fibers of the tooth brush are able to reach between teeth and under gums to pick out
tiny deposits of food. Human toothbrushes are not as effective as pet toothbrushes made to fit the unique shape of your dog’s
or cat’s mouth.
Toothpaste
DO NOT USE
A HUMAN TOOTHPASTE ON YOUR PET. Toothpaste for people contains
fluoride and foaming agents which are not expected to be swallowed and will upset your pet's stomach since your pet is not
able to rinse. Pet toothpaste comes in a variety of flavors: mint (which people
tend to prefer as a scent but animals do not prefer as a flavor), chicken, liver, and malt (generally preferred as a flavor
by pets).
Dental Spray
Some pets will
not allow anyone to actually touch their teeth. For these pets there is dental spray which can be sprayed into the mouth as
an anti-plaque wash. As noted above, the spray can be applied to a tissue or cloth and rubbed on the teeth as well.
Dental Treats
Some pets will
not allow anyone to reach into their mouths for any reason and will not tolerate brushing, spraying, rinsing or any other
home care. For these animals dental treats represent an excellent method of dental home care. We carry rawhide chews with
special enzymes to help break down plaque build up in both dogs and cats, for best results we recommend giving one treat daily.
Dental Diets
Realizing the difficulties involved in dental home care, some
specially formulated diets have been created to break calculus off of teeth. If you would like the benefits of performing
dental home care without actually having to schedule time, this may be a viable option for you.
All Pet Complex :: 7660 Horseshoe Bend Road :: Boise, ID 83714 :: Phone: (208) 853-1000
