Why is Oral Health Important?

Oral health is key in maintaining your pet’s overall health. We will guide you in how best to provide care at home – but we know how difficult it is to stay on top of regular at-home cleanings with a wriggling fur baby. Dental treats, water supplements, and regular brushing can help in staving off plaque, tartar, and gum disease. 

However, a veterinarian should provide a comprehensive oral and radiographic evaluation (CORE) procedure at least once a year to prevent, diagnose and treat more oral problems. Without regular at home cleaning, plaque and tartar naturally build up on teeth, causing everything from periodontal disease and gingivitis to swelling, infection, decay, and tooth or bone loss. In the worst cases, bacteria can even get into the bloodstream and infect other organs. According to the National Institute of Health, dental disease is the most common illness – and the most commonly undertreated illness – for dogs and cats, and will affect the majority of adult pets. We prefer to prevent issues before they lead to more serious oral health problems.

What Does an Oral Health Appointment Entail?

We know, we know – everyone dreads going to the dentist. We make it as easy as possible for you and your pet – the most important part of any surgical or dentistry procedure is anesthesia. We strive to provide the most comprehensive and high standard anesthetic plan, individually planned for each patient. From pain medication to post operative recovery, anesthesia is the most critical component of any procedure to make sure your pet stays safe, still, and comfortable. 

With our best-in-class dentistry equipment, we then perform a comprehensive assessment to check for any problems, including digital oral radiographs (x-rays) to peek below the gumline. If surgical tooth extractions or mass removals are necessary, we’ll take care of this while your pet is still under anesthesia. 

Next we use our ultrasonic scaling machine to clean plaque and tartar from the teeth, then polish scratches from their teeth to prevent future buildup.

Finally, your veterinarian will provide pain management counseling and coach you on best practices for continued oral health that are manageable for both of you (we promise we won’t make you floss your pup). 

Recovery is usually a breeze after a routine dentistry procedure, and your pet will leave with a brighter smile and in better health!