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Most pet owners do not realize the importance of dental care for their animals, but studies have shown at least 80% of all small animals 2 years of age and over already have treatable dental disease. We brush our own teeth twice a day but we tend to forget that our animals need similar oral care. Plaque (or tarter) in animals as well as humans contains bacteria. The plaque mineralizes into calculus within 2 days if it is not removed then more serious disease starts. The pet owner may first notice bad breath or indications of pain when eating or visible redness of the gums (inflammation and infection is gingivitis). Once gingivitis is present, pockets form between the gum tissue and tooth root and this leads to threatening periodontal disease which is a stage where our pets may loose teeth and even may loose bone.
Many veterinarians recommend starting preventative dental care before or at least by the same time that your pet is spayed or neutered at 5-7 months of age. At that time some specialists recommend a fluoride treatment and applying a sealant which is intended to prevent periodontal disease and preventative applications are continued at home. When your pet comes in for dental cleaning/polishing/extractions once there is already dental disease, veterinary hospitals use similar equipment that your human dentist may use.
Before anesthesia, it is recommended that pre-surgical blood work be done in order to try to ensure that anesthesia is as safe as possible. (Pre-anesthetic blood work is not even an option for humans). In addition to checking the internal organ functioning with the blood profile, your pet may be monitored under anesthesia with respirator monitors and EKG machines to ensure that the procedure is as safe as possible. Both the owner and the veterinary clinic staff want the pet to be pain free and comfortable, so it is recommended to provide pain medication before, during and after the procedure. The teeth are charted and probed just as is done by human dental hygienists. Hand scaling underneath the gum line removes any calculus that has become “cemented” to the tooth root. An ultrasonic scaler is also used to remove all the plaque. In order to ensure that there is no remaining tarter, a pink “revealer” stain can be applied that will stick to any remaining plaque so that the teeth can be re-scaled if needed. The teeth are then polished with a special paste that helps to smooth out the enamel. (This is not a bleaching or whitening process). Fluoride and sealants are commonly used; it may depend on where your pet’s dental procedure takes place. Another thing that varies from hospital to hospital is the use of antibiotics. Most dental procedures involve antibiotics to avoid the bacteria from the mouth from entering the blood stream This can be accomplished either by starting antibiotics prior to the procedure and continuing during and afterwards, or may be accomplished by heavy duty intravenous antibiotics at the time of the procedure and based on the severity may be sent home, as well.
Home care after the procedure is essential. Using a sealant, brushing, antibacterial rinses or a combination will help ensure longer intervals between your pet needing another prophylactic dental procedure.
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