Did you know that dental disease is one of the most undertreated conditions in veterinary medicine?
Dogs and cats can both suffer from various underlying conditions leading to periodontal disease, but tooth brushing is one of the most effective tools to prevent plaque and tartar build up, but what if you cant? A lot of pet owners do not have the time – or a compliant pet – and some pets are just more prone to plaque build up than others.
That is why Veterinarians offer annual Dental check ups and Dental Cleanings that normally go like this:
Firstly, a Vet will have a look in the consult room to see it there is tartar buildup or any injured teeth or potential problems.
From there a complete mouth exam must be performed under general anaesthesia.
For a professional cleaning, intubation is also needed as we use an ultrasonic water descaler. (If the animal was not intubated, a pet could inhale water, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia)
The anaesthesia and water descaler also allows us to clean under the gum line, which is were the bacteria sit that destroy the bone that holds the tooth.
Ultrasonic descalers that do not use water get incredibly hot and can burn your pet when not used properly. They also do not clean under the gum line, making a “dry clean” not effective because the tartar on the actual tooth is not the problem, it is whatever bacterial plaque accumulates under the gum line.
General anaesthetic allows your Veterinarian to also probe the teeth after cleaning to assess the depth of pockets, gum recessions or to see if there is significant bone loss.
More and more clinics now also have dental radiography, which makes it even easier for the Veterinarian to decide if a tooth should come out or not because the amount of bone loss – and sometimes fractures can be seen better. It is also a good tool to look for missing or extra teeth and cysts!
The last step of a good dental assessment and treatment is polishing: it is the final step to destroy the bacterial biofilm.
Most dogs, especially small breed dogs, certain cats and greyhound, will need at least one dental in their life time. Some need it from as young as 3 years of age – some only when they are a bit more mature. Some dogs also need yearly assessments and cleanings in order to prevent tooth extractions.
Glasslyn offers a health plan with a dental add on, where routine boosters, flea and worm prevention and a yearly clean are included.
Come in and talk to us for options and pricing or sign up via https://go.trustvet.com/signup/glasslyn-vets.