Pet Dental Care: Keeping Healthy Smiles for Life
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in dogs and cats, and regular dental care plays an important role in your pet’s overall health and comfort. Our team provides comprehensive dental evaluations, professional cleaning, dental X-rays, and treatment recommendations tailored to each pet.
How common is dental disease in pets?
Dental disease is extremely common, particularly as pets get older. Plaque and tartar can accumulate along the gumline, leading to gingivitis and periodontal disease. Regular professional evaluations and at-home dental care can help prevent or slow its progression.
What signs may indicate a pet needs dental care?
Pets often hide oral discomfort, so noticeable symptoms may indicate that dental disease is already progressing. Watch for:
- Bad breath
- Yellow or brown tartar buildup
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Loose or damaged teeth
- Difficulty chewing or dropping food
- Decreased appetite
- Excessive drooling
- Pawing at the mouth
- Facial swelling
- Changes in behavior or reluctance to have the mouth touched
What happens during a dental cleaning appointment?
Professional dental cleanings begin with a thorough oral examination. Because meaningful evaluation and cleaning require access beneath the gumline, pets are placed under general anesthesia. We carefully scale away plaque and tartar, clean and polish the teeth, and examine the mouth for abnormalities.
Yes, we perform dental X-rays. Dental radiographs allow us to evaluate tooth roots and structures beneath the gumline that cannot be seen during a visual examination. If diseased or damaged teeth are identified, we can recommend the appropriate treatment.
What types of dental procedures do you offer?
Depending on your pet’s needs, dental services may include:
- Comprehensive oral examinations
- Professional dental cleanings
- Dental X-rays
- Scaling and polishing
- Extraction of diseased, loose, or damaged teeth
- Treatment of periodontal disease
- Oral mass evaluation and biopsy when indicated
- Other oral procedures based on individual needs
How do you make dental anesthesia safe?
Anesthesia is carefully tailored to each patient. Before the procedure, we assess your pet’s health and may recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork or additional testing based on age, medical history, and examination findings.
During anesthesia, your pet is continuously monitored by the veterinary team, including vital parameters such as heart rate, oxygenation, blood pressure, respiratory function, and temperature. We also use appropriate pain management and recovery monitoring to help keep your pet comfortable throughout the procedure.
What happens if dental disease is left untreated?
Without treatment, dental disease can cause persistent oral pain, gum inflammation, tooth loss, infection, and difficulty eating. Advanced periodontal disease can also damage the tissues and bone supporting the teeth. Treating dental disease early can help protect your pet’s comfort and oral health.
How often should pets receive dental evaluations?
We recommend that your pet’s mouth be evaluated during regular veterinary examinations. The appropriate frequency of professional dental cleanings varies based on factors such as age, breed, genetics, existing dental disease, and at-home dental care.
Do recommendations differ between dogs and cats?
Yes. Dogs and cats can develop different types and patterns of dental disease, and individual risk varies considerably. Cats, for example, can develop painful conditions such as tooth resorption. We tailor dental recommendations to your pet’s species, age, oral health, and individual risk factors.
What at-home dental care tips do you recommend?
Daily home care is one of the best ways to help control plaque between professional dental evaluations.
- Brush your pet’s teeth regularly, ideally every day, using a pet-specific toothbrush and veterinary toothpaste.
- Never use human toothpaste, as some ingredients can be harmful to pets.
- Consider veterinary-approved dental diets, treats, chews, or water additives when appropriate.
- Introduce brushing gradually and reward your pet to make it a positive experience.
- Check your pet’s mouth regularly for changes in the teeth or gums.
- Keep up with routine veterinary examinations so dental problems can be identified early.
A healthy mouth is an important part of a healthy pet. If you notice bad breath, tartar, red gums, difficulty eating, or any other change in your pet’s mouth, schedule an oral evaluation so we can determine whether professional dental care is needed.
Veterinary Services
Below are all of the veterinary services we offer at Dunes Veterinary Clinic. If you have any questions regarding our services, please feel free to contact us.