The most common sign associated with dental disease is bad breath. You may also notice loose teeth and inflamed gums; your pet may drop food or become head shy. Inadequate oral health in our pets leads to periodontal disease, which left untreated causes:
- Chronic pain from infection and inflammation
- Decreased quality of life
- Decreased appetite and weight loss
- Tooth loss due to loss of supporting tissues around teeth
- Distant organ (e.g., liver, kidneys, heart valves) damage from bacterial infection
- Adverse behaviors caused by pain
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease (POD) is a progressive and irreversible loss of the support structures surrounding the teeth caused by chronic infection and inflammation in the mouth. Periodontal disease is the most common cause of inflammation in pets’ mouths and affects at least 75% of pets over 2 years of age.
How is periodontal disease treated?
Once your pet develops periodontal disease, tooth brushing, dental diets and dental treats will not resolve the situation. The calculus that has formed on the teeth has cemented to the surface. The only treatment that can stop the progression of this disease is a professional dental cleaning. Just as people need regular dental care, your pet does too.
The teeth cleaning procedure:
General anesthesia: Because our pets do not simply lie back in the dentist’s chair like we do, your pet must undergo general anesthesia to examine your pet’s mouth thoroughly and clean the teeth.
Scaling & polishing the teeth: Buildup on the teeth is removed using special dental tools. The surface of the teeth is smoothed over by polishing.
X-rays of all teeth: Visual inspection of the teeth may cause problem teeth to be missed since the roots that lie under the gum line cannot be seen.
Please call the practice today so that our dental team can further discuss this important procedure with you.
By ePetHealth