Dental Care is an important part of your pet’s overall physical
well being. Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed
health problem for pets and if left untreated, oral infections
can spread and cause damage to other parts of your pet’s body,
such as the heart, liver, lungs, or kidneys. According to
the American Veterinary Dental Society, eighty percent of dogs
and seventy percent of cats show signs of oral disease by three
years of age.
Routine dental examinations are performed during your pet’s
annual and semi-annual visits to Sunset Blvd Animal Clinic.
If your pet has dental disease, our doctors may recommend a
dental prophy, or cleaning to remove tartar build up and also to
further evaluate the extent of disease. To perform a
dental prophy, your pet will be placed under general anesthesia.
Prior to the procedure, a pre-anesthetic blood screening will be
done to help determine if your pet has any underlying conditions
that may cause complications while under anesthesia.
Once
under anesthesia, our doctors will examine all of your pet’s
teeth and gums. Digital dental radiographs (x-rays) are also
recommended to help the doctors determine the extent of damage
below the gum line. After the comprehensive oral examination is
performed, our trained technicians use an ultrasonic descaler to
remove tartar from the teeth and under the gum line. Once all of
the teeth are cleaned thoroughly, they will be polished to
create a smooth surface which is more resistant to plague build
up. A fluoride treatment is then applied to help strengthen the
enamel and reduce tooth sensitivity.
After your pet’s dental prophy, we recommend home care to keep
their teeth and gums healthy. We carry a variety of products
including pet toothbrushes and toothpaste, dental chews, rinses
and special diets which help reduce plague and tartar build up.
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