Dental Care

If there was any single thing you could do to improve your dog’s longevity and quality of life, dental care is the most important. Animals perceive oral pain in the same manner as humans so treating abnormalities as gingivitis, broken teeth or infection can have a noticeable difference. There are a variety of dental procedures for our senior and younger patients.

What types of canine dental care services are offered at your clinic?

General dental services would be a complete oral exam, dental radiographs, scaling and polishing teeth. Dental treatments include bonded sealants, extractions, deciduous tooth extraction, unerupted tooth removal, oral mass removal, etc. A visual oral exam is part of every examination.

How often should I brush my dog’s teeth?

Just like humans, your dog’s teeth should be brushed daily. Do not use human toothpaste, please purchase toothpaste from your veterinarian to ensure it is safe for your dog.

Why is oral and dental health important?

Oral and dental health are important to pets just like it is for humans. Though not so much for cosmetic reasons, to make sure there are no gingivitis, impacted teeth, and to make sure the teeth are in the correct position in the mouth. If there is an infection present and not treated, the infection can go through the bloodstream and cause serious issues in the body. These issues include anorexia due to a painful mouth, inability to eat, heart disease, kidney failure etc.

Smaller dog breeds appear to have more issues with their teeth instead of large breeds. This is because there is generally not enough room in the mouth for that many teeth. Therefore, teeth can become impacted and/or not grow properly due to lack of space.

Oral health is part of a dog’s overall health. The majority of concerns are related to infection; there are a variety of reports that suggest periodontal disease affects the health of internal organs. There is a debate about the level of the benefit, but there is no dispute that dental disease is painful. The good news is there are many ways to prevent serious infections with preventive care at home, or in our clinic.