Veterinary Dental Awareness: Advanced Dentistry in Dartmouth
While most people know that annual dental cleanings and check-ups are crucial to ensure good health, many do not know that dental care for pets is just as important. Studies show that nearly 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some degree of periodontal disease by the time they are just three years of age. Most pets rarely receive dental care beyond a basic check-up when they visit their local veterinarian for routine care. However, annual cleanings and check-ups under anesthesia are required to maintain quality feline and canine dental care. Advanced dentistry in Dartmouth is available as well at our veterinary clinic. Our team has all of the training and experience necessary to offer quality veterinary dental services at Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth.
Why Dental Care Matters
Not only will regular dental check-ups and cleanings help to prevent a wide range of dental health issues for your pet, but it can also prevent complications with other diseases and conditions that can impact your pet’s health as they get older. Periodontal disease is caused by the built-up of bacteria in the mouth, resulting in plaque. As the bacteria die off, they become calcified by the calcium found in your pet’s saliva, which becomes what is known as tartar. Left untreated, tartar can lead to gingivitis and an infection on the root of the tooth. During the final stages of gingivitis, the tissues around the tooth become destroyed, and the natural socket that holds the tooth in place erodes, making the tooth loose, allowing it to fall out.
Poor dental hygiene can also lead to broken teeth. Many pets will chew on toys, such as bones or antlers, which can cause teeth to break off and fall out. Broken teeth don’t just make it harder for your pet to chew and eat nutritious foods, but it can also expose the nerve, resulting in pain and possible infection. Any type of infection can cause further problems for your pet, impacting and increasing heart conditions, blood pressure problems, and other health risks. The best thing you can do for your pet is to schedule a veterinary check-up to provide proper dental care for pets. At Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth, we offer a wide range of services to provide comprehensive feline and canine dental care, focusing on preventive treatments and programs to help keep your pet’s teeth healthy and strong.
What to Expect at a Dental Cleaning
During a dental cleaning, the veterinarian will need to put your pet under general anesthesia to protect them and veterinary staff throughout the procedure. Dental tools are used to remove plaque and tartar from teeth, and a special polishing paste is used to smooth out any scratches found in the enamel of the teeth. A fluoride or barrier sealant will be used to strengthen and desensitize the teeth to prevent more plaque from developing. X-rays are frequently taken during the cleaning to check teeth below the gumline for damage. Most of the tooth is found beneath the gum line, so x-rays are essential to determine overall dental health.
At Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth, we encourage pet owners to get a pre-anesthetic blood screening prior to dental care for pets is performed. This is required for senior pets aged seven and older. This pre-treatment screening helps us to be aware of any potential problems and make plans to reduce risks during the procedure. Our team will work up an individual anesthetic protocol that is tailored specifically for your pet to provide the best possible pain relief and smoothest recovery possible. While your pet is under anesthesia, they will be monitored continuously with a cutting edge multi-parameter machine that tracks heart and respiratory rates, end-tidal CO2, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and temperature.
Advanced Dentistry in Dartmouth
In addition to dental cleanings, x-rays, and screenings, our team at Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth is also trained and experienced in advanced dentistry procedures. Our veterinary staff has received advanced training at the Animal Dental Training Center so we can offer the very best services to our clients. We use a surgical approach to remove any broken infected, or otherwise bad teeth to decrease the postoperative pain and improve healing time. Our team uses a state-of-the-art digital dental x-ray unit that can produce extremely high-quality images in less than five seconds. We also provide our clients with home instruction for in-between cleanings and dietary recommendations that can help to reduce tartar build-up and progress of the dental disease.
Schedule an exam for feline or canine dental care with our team of veterinary dental experts by calling 508-996-3731. We can answer any questions you might have about dental care for pets, provide pricing information for advanced dentistry in Dartmouth, and offer information about all of our other services. Call today to provide the best dental care for pets at Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth.