Pet Dentistry

Home Tooth and Gum Care – Must be done daily to be effective, but few people brush their pet’s teeth. There are several options to help keep your fury friends teeth clean and we show you how.

Professional cleaning and polishing are recommended when tartar is visible on the teeth or there is inflammation of the gum tissue (gingivitis). When your pet has gingivitis there is inflammation and infection. Bacteria from the mouth can gain access to the blood stream, so by keeping your pet’s mouth healthy we are protecting their entire body.

A common question we get is “my dog / cat had a professional dental cleaning just last year and you are telling me they need one this year?” YES! If there is visible tartar on the teeth and/or the gums are inflamed your pet needs a professional dental cleaning now. Our goal is to keep your pet healthy so you have many quality years with them.

Well that depends on your pet. I brush my teeth at least twice daily and floss, and yet my dentist finds plenty to clean at my twice-yearly appointment. Some dogs and cats may do fine with once a year cleaning, while other pets require more frequent cleaning. My dentist has a form for new patients and the first question she asks is “Do you want to keep your original teeth?” So now we ask you “Do you want to keep your furry friend’s mouth as healthy as possible?” Then when they have tartar and/or gingivitis, a professional dental cleaning is needed now.

It is a procedure done under light anesthesia where your pet’s whole mouth is examined for any pathology from periodontal infection, tartar buildup, gum inflammation and oral cancer. (Note: Don’t let anyone kid you, a groomer is not performing a dental cleaning. They are just scraping off a portion of the tartar buildup).

I want you to think of car maintenance. Regular oil and air filter changes as well as other scheduled maintenance helps prevent more costly repairs in the future. Once there is bone loss around a tooth the damage is irreversible, so let’s do our best to prevent that from happening.

This helps us find hidden pathology that may be overlooked. By being able to see the roots of the teeth and surrounding bone we can detect things like tooth root abscesses, resorptive lesions, cysts, and the list goes on.

We offer several advanced dental procedures and treatments to help bring quality back to your pet’s life. Most Veterinarians have minimal training in pet dentistry when they graduate from Veterinary school nor do they seek out continuing education opportunities on the subject. Being able to recognize oral pathology and offer proper treatment is important and should not be delayed.

We see this condition mostly in cats, but it also occurs in dogs. It is a painful disease where the tooth root(s) and / or crown breaks down. Once again cats are very good at hiding pain (silent suffering) and this may go unrecognized. The cause is unknown but extraction or partial extraction of the affected teeth is the treatment to relieve your pet’s pain.

This s a painful inflammatory condition affecting dogs where the gums and oral mucous membranes are severely inflamed. Dogs may exhibit drooling and have a foul odor to their breath. Good oral hygiene and medications help some patients, but others require extraction of the affected teeth.

When a tooth has died or suffered irreversible pulp damage root canal therapy is an option to preserve the tooth structure and function.

If a tooth or teeth are striking the upper or lower jaw, the crown can be shortened and a vital pulpotomy performed.

Any abnormal bumps/masses or discoloration in your pets mouth should be checked out as soon as possible. When we are performing a dental cleaning on your pet, a thorough oral exam in done to help detect oral tumors as soon as possible.

Any tooth that is broken, discolored or appears abnormal is often a source of pain, inflammation and infection and should be examined as soon as possible.