Dental Care

The American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) states that more than 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by the time they are 3 years old. Most oral disease starts a buildup of bacteria that is easily controlled with regular brushing or dental cleanings. However, for many reasons, most cats don’t receive adequate dental care, especially when they’re younger.

Dental disease can affect cats of any age and varies in severity – some cats develop severe disease at a relatively young age. Several factors affect the development of disease including:

Tooth alignment
Diet
Infectious diseases
Oral dental care – lack of any home dental care
Chemistry in the mouth – the bacteria and other local changes in the mouth will have an important effect
Genetics – some cats are probably genetically more predisposed to developing dental disease than others.
For more details on above factors Read Here.

Why Does My Pet Need Dental Exams?

To keep your pet as healthy as possible, your veterinarian needs to examine his teeth. Exams help prevent and detect dental disease, and ensure his overall dental health. Pets can instinctively hide any sign of pain, so you probably wouldn’t know if his teeth are painful.
Your veterinarian is trained to notice signs of pain or dental disease and they will conduct oral and radiographic examinations.
Dental disease can lead to changes in your pet’s internal organs, including the heart, liver, and kidneys.

What Happens if My Pet Needs a Procedure?

For a complete oral and radiographic evaluation (x-ray), general anesthesia is required. During the procedure, your veterinarian will:

Clean and polish his teeth.
Examine each of his 30 teeth as well as examine his gums, the roof of his mouth, inside of his cheeks, and the back of his throat. (All findings are recorded in a dental chart.)
Look for gum recession, bone loss, areas of periodontal disease, tooth resorption, and oral masses.
Take x-rays (radiographs) of each of his teeth which allow your veterinarian to see the roots and surrounding bone of your pet’s teeth.
Determine appropriate treatment for each tooth by combining the findings of the visual examination with the dental x-rays.
If oral surgery is required, your veterinarian may remove any painful, diseased teeth so your pet can be comfortable and not in pain.

What Are the Risks of Anesthesia?

If your pet has any dental or oral surgery procedure, general anesthesia is required. Take time to ask your veterinarian about their anesthetic protocols or plans. This way, you understand the steps they take to minimize the risk, relieve your fears, and provide your cat with a safe anesthetic procedure.

Some questions to consider asking your veterinarian:

Is my pet’s blood work completed before he receives anesthesia? Do you recommend any other testing for my pet?
Tell me about your pain management plans for my pet. Do you use nerve blocks for oral surgery?
Will my pet have an intravenous catheter and fluids during his procedure?
How will my pet be monitored when he is under general anesthesia?
When will my pet be discharged from the hospital after his procedure?
Will he have medication when he goes home?

More frequent dental examinations may be required if your pet has severe dental disease. Your veterinarian can help guide you in this process. Make sure you and your veterinarian discuss any findings from the examination, treatment options, and a home care routine. To book an exam at our animal dental clinic, request an appointment below.