Dentistry

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Why is dental health so important?

​Our pets will often show few obvious signs of dental disease.  In most cases dental disease develops slowly and so some pets are able to adjust to the changes in their mouth.  However this can lead to them suffering in silence.  Dental disease affects approximately 85% of dogs and cats over 1 year of age.  Poor dental health can lead to disease in other areas of the body such as the heart, liver, and kidneys.  Improved oral health care will reduce the discomfort and medical problems that accompany dental disease.

Before dentistry

What are the signs of dental disease?

​Some signs of dental disease are:
▪Foul breath (halitosis)
▪Inflamed/swollen gums
▪Drooling
▪Difficulty chewing
▪Loss of appetite (anorexia)
▪Loss of weight and muscle mass
▪Inactivity
▪​Less interaction with the family

After dentistry

How can I prevent dental disease?

The key to periodontal disease prevention is to control the accumulation of plaque.  This is best done by brushing the teeth daily.  Veterinary approved dental chews and diets are available and if given daily will decrease the amount of plaque and tartar build-up.  Annual health and dental examinations with one of our veterinarians will provide you with the information you need to provide the best dental care to your pet.

Your veterinarian may recommend a dentistry.  A dentistry is performed while your dog or cat is under general anaesthetic.  We use special instruments, to examine and clean all tooth surfaces and remove the plaque and tartar that has built up.  The teeth are polished and the mouth is rinsed.  If there are any teeth that need to be extracted, then that is also done during the dental procedure.  X-rays may also be taken to look for dental abscess, cancer, or missing/broken teeth.