This painful inflammatory disease establishes itself below the gumline, where bacteria from plaque and tartar accumulate and attack vulnerable tooth roots, surrounding structures, and bone. As the disease progresses, pets may experience intense pain from gingivitis, infection, bone loss, and broken teeth. Late-stage dental disease extends beyond the pet’s oral cavity, as overwhelming bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and damage the heart, kidneys, lungs, and liver.
Identifying dental disease in pets
Despite pain and disease, the visible portion of the tooth (i.e., the crown) can look relatively normal, and many dogs and cats will show no pain or distress. In fact, a dog or cat’s self-preservation instincts often mean they will continue to eat hard food despite severe periodontal disease. Therefore, pet owners must closely monitor their pet’s dental health and schedule an appointment for subtle changes in behavior or appearance including:
- Bad breath
- Slow eating or dropping food
- Drooling
- Pawing at the mouth
- Reluctance to chew on toys or treats
- Visibly broken, discolored, or dirty teeth
- Bleeding gums, or blood on toys or in the water bowl
- Reduced appetite
- Facial swelling, particularly around the muzzle or under the eye
- Full-mouth dental X-rays— X-rays allow us to identify pathology below the gumline including broken teeth, bone or root erosion, infection, and cancer.
- Dental scaling and polishing — We use an ultrasonic scaler to safely remove tartar and flush plaque from above and below the gum line.
- Oral cavity exam and dental charting — Each tooth is individually evaluated and mapped.
- Necessary dental extractions and therapeutic treatments — Suspicious or damaged teeth are surgically removed. Vulnerable teeth are treated therapeutically to reverse early periodontal disease.
- Pain management— Local nerve blocks and pre- and post-operative pain medications are used for painful procedures.
- Personalized home care plan — Based on your pet’s treatment, we’ll design a care plan to preserve their newly restored dental health.
