Firstly, you should have your pet's teeth examined by one of our veterinarians on a regular basis and, if necessary, follow up with a professional dental clean. Your pet needs to be anaesthetised for a thorough dental examination to be carried out, and to clean all teeth without distressing them. Once anaesthetised, a complete dental examination is carried out. This process involves charting all present teeth and evaluating their condition, including the degree of tartar, gingivitis (gum inflammation) and any pockets in the gums around the teeth.
Our veterinarians will then clean the teeth using specialised instruments, including an ultrasonic scaler–just like a dentist uses for our teeth. The teeth are then polished using a dental polisher and specialised fine-grade paste. If the dental disease is not severe, the procedure will end here. However, if certain teeth are so severely affected that they cannot be saved, extractions will be necessary.
In some cases, gum surgery is required to close the holes left behind when a tooth is extracted, and dissolvable stitches are used for this procedure. Once all dental work is completed, your pet may be given an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory injection, the anaesthetic gas is turned off, and your pet is allowed to wake up. Pets are generally able to go home on the same day.
Following a professional dental clean, a dental homecare plan needs to be implemented to minimise build-up of plaque and tartar again. This may involve regular tooth brushing and/or the feeding of special dental chews or diets. It is recommended that all pets be examined regularly after starting a dental homecare program to monitor its effectiveness.
