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Why Pet Dental Health Is Important: Imagine what would happen if you didn't brush your teeth regularly. The same applies to your pet’s teeth. Regular dental care is as important for your pet as it is for you.
Did you know that periodontal disease is the most common infectious disease in both dogs and cats? In fact, 85% of adult pets have some form of periodontal disease. If left untreated, that can mean pain, bad breath and tooth loss for your pet. Chronic infection in the oral cavity can spread harmful bacteria to the bloodstream and infect the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. One milligram of plaque alone contains over 1 trillion bacteria—bacteria that can cause disease. Fortunately, most periodontal disease can be prevented by daily plaque removal and regular professional care.
Does Your Pet Have Periodontal Disease?
| Canine |
Feline |
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Stage 1- Gingivitis: Margin of attached gingiva (gum) is inflamed and swollen. Plaque covering teeth. Treatment can reverse condition.
Stage 2- Early Periodontitis: Entire attached gum is inflamed and swollen. Mouth is painful and odor begins to be noticeable. Professional treatment and home dental care can prevent this from becoming irreversible.
Stage 3- Moderate Periodontitis: Cherry red and bleeding attached gum is being destroyed by infection and calculus (tartar). Sore mouth affects eating and behavior. Bad breath is present. Beginning of periodontal disease. May become irreversible.
Stage 4- Advanced Periodontitis: Chronic bacterial infection is destroying the gum, tooth and bone. Bacteria may be spreading throughout the entire body via the bloodstream and may damage the kidneys, liver and heart.
Regular professional dental care: Regular professional dental care involves veterinary dental examinations (annual at the minimum) in which the veterinarian carefully examines your pet’s mouth, teeth and gums and annual professional dental cleaning of your pet’s teeth.
Professional dental cleaning
Step1: Predental Work: Pre-anesthetic laboratory and diagnostic testing are highly recommended to better evaluate your pet’s current health status and assure safe anesthesia. This testing is required for pets 6 or older. A physical examination is next performed to evaluate your pet’s general health.
Step 2: Oral Exam and Anesthetizing: The oral exam consists of a visual inspection of the face, oral cavity, gums and tooth surfaces. After the exam is complete, your pet is anesthetized to allow for a safe and painless cleaning.
Step 3: Scaling: The first part of the dental cleaning requires the removal of tartar and plaque above and below the gum line. This is accomplished with hand scaling instruments and an ultrasonic scaler.
Step 4: Probing, Dental Mapping and Post Exam Therapy: Next, the doctor uses a periodontal probe and checks for pockets under the gum line where periodontal disease starts. Any dental disease or teeth abnormality is recorded on your pet’s dental map.
Other diagnostic procedures such as dental x-ray may be required. If dental disease is present, dental therapy such as antibiotic gel application or tooth extraction may be recommended.
Step 5: Teeth Polishing and Flushing: The pet’s teeth are polished to smooth the surfaces, making them resistant to additional
plaque formation. After polishing, the teeth are flushed to remove dislodged tartar and
help to remove the bacteria that accompany the tartar.
Step 6: Flouride and Oravet Sealant Application: The final steps of the cleaning are fluoride and Oravet Barrier Sealant application to the teeth. Fluoride helps to decrease teeth sensitivity, strengthen enamel and decrease the rate of plaque formation.
OraVet Barrier Sealant creates an invisible barrier that prevents plaque and tartar forming bacteria from attaching to the teeth. |
Oral Exam
Hand Scaling
Ultrasonic Scaling
Dental X-Ray
Teeth Brushing |
Home dental care (daily plaque removal): Dental care does not end with an annual professional teeth cleaning. Providing home dental care is essential to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Annual professional cleaning alone is not enough. Plaque can begin to form on the teeth within a week after the cleaning if no home care is used.
We recommend brushing at least several times a week and the application of the OraVet Barrier Sealant once per week. If you are unable to brush, the OraVet Barrier Sealant in conjunction with a dental diet, chews or rinses can be just as effective. All dental home care products that are purchased at the time of a professional cleaning are 20 % OFF.
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