Yes! Yes! We understand! Some may be skeptical about your pet smiling at you, but we’re not; we know all about those smiles! Problem is, we veterinarians see the “dark” side of that flashy set of teeth a little too often, and if we leave it that way, it can be both “yucky” and painful – and even downright dangerous!
Both animals and people need regular dental care. Surprisingly, though, while the need is the same, the problems are a little different. While humans tend to get cavities, our small animal patients are relatively immune to this process. Instead small animals are more prone to tartar (calculus) and plaque build up, which leads to gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. Periodontal disease in animals causes pain, foul breath, eventual loss of teeth, and can cause bacterial infections in internal organs, such as the heart, liver and kidneys.
Our regular 12-point physical exams include a thorough examination of your pet’s mouth and teeth. If we find halitosis (foul breath), gum disease, tartar or plaque when we examine your pet, we may want to discuss teeth cleaning and pet oral hygiene with you. This is a two-way system usually. We can advise you on diet, routine pet dental care and, of course, we offer regular professional teeth cleaning services to remove plaque and tartar and freshen your pet’s breath.
In order to perform a professional dental cleaning properly on your pet they will need to be anesthetized. So-called non-anesthetic dentals may be able to clean the tartar off the crowns of the teeth, but they cannot clean under the gums or take x rays to evaluate the dental health of you fur baby’s tooth roots. So while there is benefit to removing plaque and tartar from the tops of the teeth, more important and longer lasting benefits can be only obtained by performing a proper professional dental cleaning with the pet anesthetized.
Whether your pet is young or old, whether you have a dog, cat, or ferret, your pet’s dental care is of vital importance and we are here to help. We are fully trained and equipped to provide all of the following dentistry services:
- Oral Cancer Screening
- Tooth Scaling
- Tooth Polishing
- Dental Radiology (X-rays)
- Tooth Extractions (for teeth damaged beyond repair)
- Periodontal Surgery (to repair serious gum damage)
- Oral Surgery
- Dental Pain Control (as and when, but only when, needed)
- Home Dental Care Instruction & Training
- Canine and feline toothbrushes and animal toothpaste
- freshening products
Ask your Chastain Veterinary professional soon about dentistry services for your pet.
