Dental Disease Treatment

Dental Disease Treatment

Dental health is an important part of your pet’s health and wellness. That smelly breath is more than just an annoyance- it is a sign of a diseased mouth. Bacteria builds up on teeth, leading to plaque formation. This plaque cements onto teeth, creating tartar; a very hard substance often brown or grey in color. Tartar allows for continued bacterial growth, gum recession, bone resorption and tooth root exposure.

As dental disease progresses, abscesses (or painful pockets of infection) can occur as well as tooth loss, bone loss and mouth pain.  Often times, pets may have swellings around their muzzle, will have trouble picking up their food, chewing their food, or may even stop eating all together. Additionally, dental disease can cause infections in other areas of the body as the bacteria travels from the mouth through the body to the kidneys, heart, or other organs.

There are many treatments for dental disease.  The most important, and most economical, are yearly dental cleanings. Our office is equipped with ultrasonic dental scaling and polishing machines to remove the tartar built up on teeth and polish the teeth to protect the enamel.  We are equipped with digital dental radiology to visualize root and bone loss to determine when extractions are necessary. Additionally, we can provide fluoride treatments and laser treatments to the gum line to promote healing.  Call our office today to schedule your pet’s dental evaluation. After an exam, your doctor can discuss the extent of dental disease present, and best options for treatment, such as daily brushing or a dental cleaning. Our doctors and technicians would be happy to guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have.