Often overlooked as it relates to a pet's comprehensive health status, animal dental care is needed to provide quality of life and optimal well-being. If left untreated, diseases of the mouth, gums or jaw are not only painful to your companion, but may also be contributing factors to more widespread systemic disease processes. The American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 70-85% of dogs and cats show signs of oral disease by age 3.

The beginning and severity of periodontal disease depends on age, breed, diet and at-home care, with younger, small-breed dogs typically presenting with infection earlier than large-breed dogs. Abnormal signs and symptoms of dental abnormalities include: pain, bad breath, excessive drooling, fractured or loose teeth, swelling or bleeding of the gums, tumors, sores or wounds.

Your Preston Royal team will be certain that your furry friend receives proper dental care from the start. The oral examination performed by your Preston Royal doctor is the basis of the preliminary treatment plan for your pet.

While it is understandable that pet owners may be concerned about bad breath and unsightly tartar accumulation, regular dental care is more than cosmetic: Tartar and plaque, often invaded by bacteria, need to be removed to counteract subsequent infection, gingivitis or pyorrhea (infection of tissues surrounding the teeth), with 60% of disease occurring below the gum line.

The Preston Royal Veterinary staff is well-skilled and equipped to perform dental procedures such as:

  • Digital Dental X-rays
  • Ultrasound de-scaling of tartar
  • Deep-gum cleaning
  • Application of Oravet dental sealants to minimize staining and invasion of bacteria
  • Fluoride treatments
  • Teeth polishing
  • Extractions

After your pet's treatment, you and your Preston Royal team can discuss home dental care for your pet in order to understand how to maintain a disease-free oral cavity and to maximize his or her comfort and quality of life.

Why have my pets teeth cleaned professionally?

Did you know about 85% of dogs and cats have some form of periodontal disease? Proper dental care is critical to a pet's overall good health. If oral infection such as periodontal disease is left untreated, bacteria can travel through the bloodstream and damage internal organs. Animals can suffer the same kinds of dental problems as humans, including infection, severe pain, and fractured teeth.

Periodontal Disease warning signs include:

Bad breath

Tartar (yellow or dark colored) buildup on the teeth

Swollen, receding, or bleeding gums

Change in eating habits

Excessive drooling

Fractured or abscessed teeth

When is it time to take dental x-rays?

Dental x-ray allows us to look beyond the obvious and better examine teeth and the supporting structures below the gum line - revealing hidden and often painful conditions. For that reason, x-rays are recommended for many of our dental procedures.

  • Where periodontal disease is present anywhere in the mouth.
  • When a tooth is mobile.
  • When gums bleed with or without probing.
  • When a tooth is fractured (either enamel, dentin, or pulpal exposure).
  • When a tooth is discolored.
  • When teeth are missing without explanation.
  • When a feline ondoclastic resorptive lesion (FORL) is noted.
  • When oral or facial swelling is present.

What is anesthesia free dental cleaning and is my pet a candidate?

Preston Royal Animal Clinic is excited offer anesthesia-free dental cleaning for dogs and cats. This is a safe, gentle, and affordable way to have your pet's teeth cleaned. The anesthesia-free procedure involves manual scaling and use of a piezo ultrasonic scaler to clean all surfaces of the teeth as well as polishing the teeth. The teeth will also be closely examined for any cracks or chips and charted for any pockets.

Anesthesia free dental cleanings are not for every pet, though. The ideal pet is one that is mild mannered and not head shy, with only mild tartar and gingivitis. Animals with evidence of more advanced dental disease (such as those with tooth mobility, gingival loss or recession, severe redness or stomatitis, or those with fractured teeth or resorptive lesions) are not good candidates for this type of cleaning. These animals require a more in depth oral examination and diagnostics that can only be done by a veterinarian with the patient under anesthesia.

Unlike a dental cleaning done under anesthesia, anesthesia-free teeth cleaning does not include bloodwork, x-rays, extractions or deep subgingival cleaning. If your pet has periodontal disease, we strongly recommend they receive a veterinary dental cleaning under anesthesia.

Dental preventative care

Dental care for animals is similar to dental care for humans, only animals can't brush their own teeth. The following are ways that you can help prevent dental disease in your pet.

  • Brush pet's teeth with specially formulated pet toothpaste. Do not use toothpaste formulated for humans
  • Use C.E.T. Enzyme chews daily to help breakdown plaque and tartar
  • Feed hard food designed to help break down tartar, such as Science Diet t/d
  • Schedule regular professional teeth cleanings