Dental Care
Your pet's dental care is vitally important! Clean teeth and a healthy mouth do more than just prevent bad breath. Regular dental cleanings, along with a home dental care regimen, prevent gum disease and other more serious problems that can affect your pet's health.
Kings Veterinary Hospital provides your pet with a complete array of dental care services, from routine cleanings to tooth extractions and oral surgery. In order to better serve your pet, we offer digital dental radiology, which has become the gold-standard of care in veterinary dental care.
Why Dental Care Is Important
The health of your pet's teeth and gums has an impact on his or her overall health. Gum disease has far-reaching effects on your pet's health. If left untreated, bacteria from oral diseases and infections can enter the bloodstream, resulting in diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver, and other health problems. Regular dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar buildup - the source of periodontal disease.
Signs To Look For
If your pet exhibits any of the following symptoms, he or she may have periodontal disease:
- Red or swollen gums
- Loose teeth
- Bleeding gums
- Bad breath
- Discomfort or difficulty while chewing
Many of these signs appear in the advanced stages of periodontal disease. If your pet shows any of these symptoms, please call us immediately and schedule an appointment.
Your Pet's Dental Cleaning
Veterinary dental cleanings are far more involved than the same procedure you undergo at the dentist. Before the procedure begins, we perform a cardiac assessment of your pet and offer preoperative blood tests. The exam and tests are used to detect any pre-existing conditions that could complicate the use of anesthesia. We develop an anesthetic protocol that is unique to your pet; once anesthesia is administered, the cleaning procedure begins.
The first step in the cleaning, performed by a trained veterinary technician or seasoned assistant, is the removal of plaque and tartar from your pet's teeth. The area above the gumline is cleaned first using a hand scaler. Next, the area under the gumline is cleaned. Then the teeth are polished, in order to create a smooth surface on the teeth - this prevents plaque and tartar attachment. The area under the gumline is then thoroughly rinsed, in order to remove any debris left behind by the cleaning and polishing process.
The second step in cleaning is an oral assessment by a veterianrian using a probe. Fractured teeth, subgingival pockting, loose teeth, malalignments and gingival growths/tumor assessment are performed during this part of the procedure as well. Dental radiographs can then be ordered if irregularities are found. The third phase involves extractions, antibiotic gel application, and tissue removal (when indicated). The final phase of the procedure is the application of an enamel sealant, called Oravet, which reduces plaque and tartar build up.
Home Care
Your pet's dental care doesn't end when he or she leaves our hospital. Our veterinarians and staff can show you how to brush your pet's teeth at home. Brushing your pet's teeth is the most effective way to prevent plaque and tartar buildup - it is also a good opportunity to bond with your best friend. We also provide you with information on specialty foods and treats that promote good oral health. We beleive dental care is a must for your pet and we work closely with you to keep your pet's teeth and gums healthy and strong.