Caring for your pet is no easy task, but at Wishing Well Veterinary Hospital, we’re here to remind you that pet dental care is one of the most
important aspects
of pet healthcare because it can directly affect your dog or cat’s overall health as well. That is why we recommend scheduling cat and dog teeth cleaning annually to enable our team to provide high quality dental care.
Does My Pet Need Dental Care?
Unfortunately, our pets can’t tell us when they’re feeling pain or discomfort and will often continue to act normally even if they require dental care. There are some symptoms to help you determine if your pet needs dental care such as:
Bad breath
Broken, loose, or missing teeth
Discoloration or tartar build up
Excessive chewing or drooling
Reduced appetite or inability to chew
Swelling and bleeding in or around the mouth
What to Know About Pet Dental Care
Why Are Dental X-rays Important?
Did you know 50% of each pet’s tooth is below the gum line and therefore not visible to the naked eye? Dental radiology, or dental X-rays, allow our team to gain a better understanding of your dog or cat’s oral health. We use dental X-rays to see below the gum line of your pet’s teeth to check for issues including root abscesses, root fractures, severe bone loss of the jaw and cystic lesions and provide appropriate treatment. We recommend full mouth dental X-rays for all patients and can perform this while your pet is under anesthesia for their teeth cleaning.
What is the Oral Health Procedure?
All pets will undergo a physical exam and blood work prior to their dental procedure to ensure their health and safety for anesthesia. We will place an IV catheter to administer anesthesia, IV fluids, and eliminate any toxins from your pet’s bloodstream. Then we can provide antibiotics if the veterinarian notices substantial evidence of gingivitis. Our team can then proceed with the following procedure:
- Step 1: We will clean above your pet’s gum line, including all visible surfaces of your pet’s teeth.
- Step 2: The most important step during a cat and dog teeth cleaning in Wayne, NJ is cleaning below the gum line and removing any plaque that may cause periodontal disease.
- Step 3: Your veterinarian will examine your pet’s mouth to check for any issues to note such as tongue or lip lesions, deep pockets in the gums around the teeth and loose, broken, or discolored teeth.
- Step 4: We will take full mouth dental X-rays to provide a comprehensive assessment of your pet’s teeth and mouth.
- Step 5: Polishing your pet’s teeth is necessary to smooth the surface of each tooth and help prevent future plaque buildup.
- Step 6: Scaling and polishing may cause debris to build up below the gum line, so we can flush your pet’s gums to avoid any issues.
- Step 7: We can provide a fluoride treatment to strengthen the enamel of your pet’s teeth, reduce any tooth sensitivity, and potentially slow Feline Oral Resorptive Lesions that may be forming.
- Step 8: Depending on the results of the dental X-rays and your veterinarian’s assessment, we can then provide appropriate treatment.
- Step 9: Prevention is the best way to maintain your pet’s good oral health.
How Do I Know If My Pet Is in Pain?
Pets are very good at hiding any signs of pain, so it can be difficult to determine on your own. However, pets may also instinctively hide symptoms of pain and continue acting normally regardless. If you notice more frequent licking, heavy breathing, any changes in their posture or sleep schedule, your pet might be experiencing pain. If you have any concerns, please contact our team right away.