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Dental Prophylaxis
Much attention has been focused on veterinary dentistry in the last year. Research clearly shows that proper dental care is probably the most important thing that you can do to add years of length and quality to the life of your pet.
Pet dental care is important because:
Gum infections hurt!!!
Gum and teeth disease lead to other infections such as endocarditis (heart valve infection) and kidney infections. The bacteria in the mouth can even be a potential source of human infections.
Your pet will be much more pleasant to be around with no "bad breath."
It will save you a great deal of expense in caring for your pet in later years.
The Steps of Proper Dental Prophylaxis
ECG Screening & Laboratory Testing
These enhance sedation safety and provide a prognosis of internal organ problems that can affect the health of your pet after the dental cleaning. As the pet grows older, internal organs begin to fail. Even though they seem to be in "good health," blood testing often reveals sub-clinical problems that are treatable when caught in time. This step is not standard procedure in human dentistry.
Anesthesia
Sedation is required since most kitties will not "open wide." Sedation also allows us to do a much more thorough job below the gum line, which, although unable to be seen, is where most of the real problem is located. The part of the tooth under the gum line must be cleaned, as well as the exposed portion to really help long-term. Our sedatives are chosen with your pet's utmost safety in mind, and are dictated by age, weight, and physical condition. The cost of anesthesia is a major reason that a dental cleaning costs more in animals than in people.
Scaling
Scaling of the teeth is done to remove tartar above and below the gum line. Scaling is done with both hand instruments and ultrasonic cleaning equipment.
Polishing to Decrease New Plaque Formation
Just like using fine grit sandpaper after using coarse grit, we must polish to make the teeth smooth. Polishing the teeth after scaling is important to "smooth down" the surfaces, which then will be more resistant to new placque accumulation. Without polishing, dental specialists say we are really doing very little good, and in fact the plaque will return very quickly if the teeth are not polished after scaling.
Antiseptic Flushing
It is important after polishing to rid the mouth of the ever-present bacteria so they do not invade the gums irritated during the cleaning. Solutions are actually flushed beneath the gum line to rid these germs.
Fluoride Treatment of the Teeth After Cleaning
Flouride treatment is a highly recommended part of the dental prophylaxis procedure. It decreases teeth sensitivity, strengthens enamel, has some antibacterial effects, and decreases the rate of future plaque formation.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are usually required in veterinary dentistry because teeth cleaning is not usually performed until tooth and gum disease is already present. Injectable antibiotics are used routinely. Oral medications are sometimes prescribed, depending upon the severity of infection. This is not routinely needed in human dentistry because we don't let our teeth get that bad before seeking professional help.
Once the dental cleaning procedure has been completed, it is important that you follow the dental hygiene recommendations made for your particular pet to keep his or her teeth and gums as healthy as possible.
Much attention has been focused on veterinary dentistry in the last year. Research clearly shows that proper dental care is probably the most important thing that you can do to add years of length and quality to the life of your pet.
Pet dental care is important because:
Gum infections hurt!!!
Gum and teeth disease lead to other infections such as endocarditis (heart valve infection) and kidney infections. The bacteria in the mouth can even be a potential source of human infections.
Your pet will be much more pleasant to be around with no "bad breath."
It will save you a great deal of expense in caring for your pet in later years.
The Steps of Proper Dental Prophylaxis
ECG Screening & Laboratory Testing
These enhance sedation safety and provide a prognosis of internal organ problems that can affect the health of your pet after the dental cleaning. As the pet grows older, internal organs begin to fail. Even though they seem to be in "good health," blood testing often reveals sub-clinical problems that are treatable when caught in time. This step is not standard procedure in human dentistry.
Anesthesia
Sedation is required since most kitties will not "open wide." Sedation also allows us to do a much more thorough job below the gum line, which, although unable to be seen, is where most of the real problem is located. The part of the tooth under the gum line must be cleaned, as well as the exposed portion to really help long-term. Our sedatives are chosen with your pet's utmost safety in mind, and are dictated by age, weight, and physical condition. The cost of anesthesia is a major reason that a dental cleaning costs more in animals than in people.
Scaling
Scaling of the teeth is done to remove tartar above and below the gum line. Scaling is done with both hand instruments and ultrasonic cleaning equipment.
Polishing to Decrease New Plaque Formation
Just like using fine grit sandpaper after using coarse grit, we must polish to make the teeth smooth. Polishing the teeth after scaling is important to "smooth down" the surfaces, which then will be more resistant to new placque accumulation. Without polishing, dental specialists say we are really doing very little good, and in fact the plaque will return very quickly if the teeth are not polished after scaling.
Antiseptic Flushing
It is important after polishing to rid the mouth of the ever-present bacteria so they do not invade the gums irritated during the cleaning. Solutions are actually flushed beneath the gum line to rid these germs.
Fluoride Treatment of the Teeth After Cleaning
Flouride treatment is a highly recommended part of the dental prophylaxis procedure. It decreases teeth sensitivity, strengthens enamel, has some antibacterial effects, and decreases the rate of future plaque formation.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are usually required in veterinary dentistry because teeth cleaning is not usually performed until tooth and gum disease is already present. Injectable antibiotics are used routinely. Oral medications are sometimes prescribed, depending upon the severity of infection. This is not routinely needed in human dentistry because we don't let our teeth get that bad before seeking professional help.
Once the dental cleaning procedure has been completed, it is important that you follow the dental hygiene recommendations made for your particular pet to keep his or her teeth and gums as healthy as possible.