Regular professional cleaning is important to maintaining your pet’s teeth and subsequently vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver. We use modern and safe ultrasonic and hand scalers to clean each tooth thoroughly – above and below the gum line, front and back. A proper cleaning cannot be done in the awake animal although home brushing does help. A general anesthesia is required to do a thorough job. Dental technicians polish the teeth to create a smooth, lustrous tooth surface that is more resistant to plaque buildup. Fluoride treatments help strengthen enamel and reduce tooth sensitivity. Full mouth xrays are also available to evaluate the tooth health that is hidden under the gumline. Any teeth that are problematic are evaluated to determine if extractions are necessary. Problematic teeth SHOULD be extracted to maintain the long-term health of your pet. Gum disease is painful and leads to loose teeth and is a source of serious infection to body organs. Our veterinarians are trained to know which teeth require removal and will only recommend extraction when there are no other options. There is a misconception that dogs that have no teeth cannot eat. This is not true. Over the years, our clinic has never had a pet that would not eat after having multiple teeth (and in rare cases “ALL” teeth) pulled. In fact, pets that are pain free are happier and healthier and owners have commented that once those diseased teeth were removed, their pet was acting like a youngster again.
