Why do animals need dental treatment?

Dental disease is one of the most common diseases in pets but also one that goes largely unnoticed. If left too long irreversible damage can be caused and your pet may need to have teeth removed. Some of the subtle signs that your pet may suffer from dental disease are bad breath and reluctance to eat hard food. If you look in their mouth their teeth may also be dirty or their gums may be inflamed. Generally once it gets to this stage it means there is disease present and they are in a considerable amount of pain. Unfortunately animals can't let us know when they have a sore mouth and teeth so regular dental check-ups are extremely important for the well-being and happiness of your pet.

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Treatment of dental disease

Treatment of dental disease in dogs and cats is very similar to the treatment you receive when you go to the dentist. We use probes to assess the extent of gum disease, an ultrasonic scaler to clean the teeth, and a fluoride paste to polish them at the end of the procedure. We also have a special dental x-ray machine to assess changes to the teeth, roots and jaw that we are unable to see with just a visual assessment. Any teeth that are found to be rotten or damaged can then be removed just as you would at your regular dentist. Most animals feel much better after having a dental done as we are removing their source of pain and discomfort under the comfort of a general anaesthetic.