Dental Clinic
As part of our preventative health care programme we offer dental clinic consultations by appointment. These check-ups allow us to assess your pet's dental health and decide on the best methods of care.
This includes discussion and advice on daily home care for your pet's teeth and information on in-clinic dental treatments if required.
Signs of Dental disease:
- Bad breath/halitosis
- Visible tartar on the teeth
- Red and swollen gums
- Difficulty eating or pain around the mouth
- Tooth loss
Periodontal disease is inflammation and destruction of the tissues which support the teeth. This is the most common disease affecting dogs and cats with 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over three affected. The beginning of the disease process is the deposition of plaque on your pet's teeth. This occurs when food particles and bacteria collect along the gum line. Routine home care such as brushing your pet's teeth can remove plaque.
If plaque is not removed then minerals in the saliva combine with plaque to form tartar. Once formed it cannot be removed by homecare alone. Tartar is irritating to the gums and causes inflammation called gingivitis. Tartar can build up under the gum line creating pockets that encourage bacterial growth. This infection causes pain and damages the supporting structures of the teeth, which can ultimately lead to tooth loss. Bacteria can also enter the blood stream and cause infections in secondary sites such as the heart valves, kidneys and liver.
Regular home care for your pet's teeth is the best way to prevent periodontal disease and clean teeth are the best starting point.
However if your pet already has some tartar then they will need to come into the clinic for dental treatment. Thorough assessment and treatment of dental disease can only be done with pets under sedation or general anaesthesia. Handheld instruments are used to probe and clean under the gumline. Then we use a modern ultrasonic scaler to thoroughly clean the teeth. Finally a polishing unit is used with special paste to smooth off the surfaces.
If your pet is suffering from any of the symptoms of dental disease or you would like some advice on dental care please phone for a dental clinic appointment.