Pet Dental Care
Why It Matters
Proper dental care is as important for your pet as it is for you. In addition to preventing bad breath and periodontal disease, good dental hygiene can also prevent infection from spreading through the blood stream to your pet's liver, kidneys, and heart. This "bacterial shower" can lead to permanent organ damage affecting your pet's overall health. It is estimated that more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats develop tooth and gum disease by the age of three years.
Proper dental hygiene can, however,increase your pet's health, vitality and wellbeing. Veterinary dental care will help ensure your pet leads the best life possible. It will also help minimize the lifetime cost of care for your pet.
Dental Services
The centerpiece of good dental care is a complete oral exam followed by a thorough cleaning. Dental cleanings at Animal & Bird Hospital of Del Mar include ultrasonic scaling followed by polishing and a mouth rinse, the combination of which is designed to remove plaque and slow its buildup.
We also offer digital dental X-rays, which are high-definition images that provide a view below your pet's gum line and jaw in order to look for evidence of dental disease that cannot be seen by visual examination alone. This is a wonderful tool for enabling the treatment of dental issues before they become much larger and more problematic.
Should we find any issues, such as evidence of gum or tooth decay, gingivitis, or excessive plaque buildup, we will discuss this with you and recommend treatment options. We are experienced dental practitioners and capable of offering a number of dental procedures and oral surgeries. For more complicated or severe cases, we may refer you to a board certified veterinary dentist.
We offer:
- Oral examinations under anesthesia
- Diagnosis and treatment of Periodontal disease
- Digital X-rays
- Supra and subgingival scaling
- Tooth extractions
- Polishing
- Irrigation
- Fluoride application
We are also dedicated to educating the pet owner about the importance of dental health. The home care products we offer are carefully researched before selected for optimum health benefits. Our dental technicians are well educated and highly trained in dentistry and take great pride in the services they provide.
Home Dental Care
Dental care is not something that can be left to periodic visits with us. Because plaque buildup, the primary cause of poor oral health, is a gradual process occurring throughout the life of your pet, it is important to practice good home dental care. As with humans, this means regular tooth brushing and in some cases additional steps may be necessary. Any member of the our staff can show you the proper method for caring for your pet's teeth as well as help you select the most effective dental products for your pet.
You should also be able to recognize the signs of poor oral health. If you notice any of the following you may want to contact us:
- Persistent bad breath (one of the first signs of dental disease)
- Tartar or plaque buildup (ask your veterinarian how to identify these)
- A yellowish-brown crust of plaque on the teeth near the gum line
- Red and swollen gums
- Pain or bleeding when your pet eats or when the mouth or gums are touched
- Pawing at the mouth
- Decreased appetite or difficulty eating
- Loose or missing teeth