Dental Care

So, the Doctor said you need Dentistry?

Prophylactic dentistry is one of the 9 key points to preventive pet health care

Why?

Pets live longer – Research indicates that periodontal disease left untreated can shorten the life of your pet by up to 5 years.
Pets live healthier – According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, the number 1 health problem diagnosed in dogs and cats is oral disease. By age 3, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of it. Organs secondarily affected include the heart, brain, kidneys and liver.
Pets live happier – The social plus of having a halitosis free pet is that you have an up-close companion again.

What is involved?

Regular prophy – a physical examination.
A pre-anesthetic blood test to facilitate the selection of the appropriate anesthetic
A pre-anesthetic medication - to prevent pain and anxiety.
General anesthesia - usually an injectable induction and then a gas maintenance anesthetic after intubating the pet patient.
Anesthetic monitoring
Oral examination and record
Ultra-sonic scaling
Rotary polishing
+/- Fluoride treatment

For the older patient:

Safety and gentleness is paramount
More extensive pre-anesthetic blood tests (+/- antibiotics) to assess organ function
Fluid therapy either intravenously or subcutaneously
Assessment of osteoporosis of the jaw bone

Will he/she lose all his/her teeth? Then what?

Our policy concerning tooth extraction is to make the judgment when the pet is anesthetized. The teeth are removed if they are seriously damaged, loose or if there is much gum recession. The judgment is based on minimizing pain for the pet, frequent dentals, anesthetics and expense. Most animals do well even if they require all their teeth be extracted.


Before Dentistry	After Dentistry

How safe is it and who does it?

Any anesthetic procedure involves some degree of risk. If there is any concern over your pet’s ability to take the anesthetic, the doctor will discuss this with you. This is teamwork. The doctor assesses the patient, gives the anesthetic and does extractions while the nurse acts as the dental hygienist and does the scaling, root planing and polish/fluoride treatments.

How long will it take?

Your pet is admitted to the hospital usually between 8 and 9am having been fasted for 12 hours previously (depending on species) and is usually discharged between 4 and 6pm the same day. If it is more convenient for you, you may leave your pet overnight either the day before or after the dentistry.

Do you use pain killers?

Before the anesthetic yes and after the dentistry only if there have been extractions, or another reason as to your pet requiring it.

What’s new in preventive dentistry?

Professional Periodontal Care (PPC)
- An annual prophy by the veterinary team is helpful for many pets
Client Prevention Maintenance (CPM)
- Mechanical Plaque Control
  - Brushes – triple head, small head, finger brush
  - Dentifrices (toothpastes) – CET
  - Biochemical Plaque Control
  - CET, Enzadent
  - Chlorhexidine
  - Oxyfresh gel & rinse
  - Maxigaurd
  - Leba III
  - Chew toys (non-consumable) – Hooves, bones, rawhide, Nylabone, Kongs
- Chew Aids (consumable) – Dental rings, pigs ears, rawhide(Chew-eeze), dental bones, Greenies, CET chews (cats & dogs)
- Treats – MediTreats (fruit & vegetable)
- Diets
  - Hills t/d (tartar diet) for cats and dogs
  - Medi-Cal Dental diet for cats and dogs
  - Eukanuba

Our recommendation (Based on clinical evidence and research data)

Hills t/d (tartar diet) for cats and dogs
Oxyfresh gel and pet oral hygiene solution (POHS)

“Dental Care – When smile makeovers don’t cut it”