All dental procedures throughout the year receive a complimentary progress examination and a sample of OraVet Barrier Sealant.


Dental Care at the Animal Medical Center

What Happens When My Pet Has a Dental Assessment and Treatment?

When your pet is admitted into the hospital for a dental assessment and treatment, it is usually after a recent physical exam that indicated that your pet had some level of periodontal disease, plaque accumulation or gingivitis.  Studies have shown that 85% of all dogs and cats over one year old have some degree of periodontal disease.  Imagine what our mouths would look like if we never brushed!!

A physical examination is performed by the veterinarian, then our technicians obtain pre-anesthetic bloodwork (manditory for animals over 5).  This gives the veterinarian an idea of  your animal's heart, liver and kidney function, screens for other blood disorders and gives us an idea of how well your pet will metabolize the anesthesia and how fast it will be removed from the body.

Once your pet has been cleared for surgery, he/she is given a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection of a sedative/pain reliever.  A few minutes later, they are relaxed and groggy.  An IV catheter is then placed into a vein and he/she is then given an intravenous (in the vein) injection of anesthetic, and drifts off to sleep.  A tube is placed in the trachea to assist with breathing, and the plane of anesthesia is maintained via isoflourane gas through that same tube.  The animal is observed at all times by a technician, and machines measure pulse, respiration, temperature and blood pressure.

Intravenous fluids are administered via an electronic pump at a rate determined by the doctor.  This helps support blood pressure, maintain kidney perfusion and expedite drug metabolism.

Radiographs are taken of your pets mouth to evaluate his/her teeth below the gum line and at the roots of the teeth.  Many times teeth which appear normal on the surface have significant periodontal disease around the roots.  Severely diseased teeth are extracted, eliminating chronic infection and most importantly, chronic pain.

The supragingival (above the gumline) plaque and tartar are removed using special calculus forceps, hand instruments, and power scaling equipment.  We examine each tooth for mobility, fractures, malocclusion, and periodontal disease (probe for pocket depths after calculus is removed).  Special curettes are used to probe the subgingival (below the gumline) spaces as well as remove any deposits.


                                                                                                                 

An electronic polisher is used to smooth the enamel surfaces of each tooth.  A sealant called OraVet is then applied to the sufaces of the clean teeth.  Pre and post-treatment photographs are taken for clients.

Vitals are monitored until our patient is fully awake.  If needed, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications are dispensed.

 

The pet owner is an integral part of our dental team.  Home care is the single most important procedure the owner can do to maintain oral health.  If performed regularly, daily brushing will dramatically increase the interval between teeth cleaning appointments.

Plaque is constantly being made and deposited in the mouth. Humans have a buildup of plaque in the morning, that makes our breath smell bad.  Proper home care can keep plaque buildup under control.  The goal of dental home care is to remove plaque from tooth surfaces and gingival sulci before it mineralizes into calculus, a process that occurs within days of a teeth cleaning.  Success depends on the owner's ability to daily brush the teeth, as well as the dog or cat's acceptance of the process.  True oral cleanliness can only be achieved through the mechanical action of toothbrush bristles above and below the gingiva.

Home care is best started at a young age before the adult teeth erupt.  The perfect time to introduce dental home care is at the first puppy or kitten visit.  The client-animal bond as well as the client-veterinary bond is enhanced when daily brushing is performed following instructions given at the animal hospital.