Did you know that bad breath can be an important sign of periodontal disease in pets? Oral disease is surprisingly common—70% of cats and 85% of dogs have some form of dental disease as early as age three. Signs of dental disease to look for include:

• Bad breath
• Dropping food or difficulty chewing
• Excessive drooling
• Swollen, red, or bleeding gums
• Sensitivity around mouth
• Weight loss and decreased appetite
• Depression

If you think your pet might be suffering from dental disease, please contact us to schedule a dental exam.

What dental care is provided during a routine wellness exam?
Your pet’s regular physical wellness exam will include an examination of your pet’s mouth and discussion of an appropriate oral program for your pet. This might include learning about tooth brushing, and, if necessary, a dental cleaning or other advanced dental procedures.
What is involved in a dental cleaning?
General anesthesia is required for a dental procedure, including a dental cleaning. This allows us to thoroughly examine your pet’s mouth, clean and polish all tooth surfaces, take x-rays, and perform any needed procedures, such as a tooth extraction. Prior to a dental cleaning, we do a screening that includes a physical exam and pre-anesthesia testing. We customize the anesthesia and pain management protocols for each pet patient to ensure safety and comfort before, during, and after a dental procedure. Dental cleanings are performed by Dr. Schpero and assisted by a trained surgical technician. During the cleaning, we monitor your pet’s heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and temperature. If a patient needs an advanced dental procedure, we use medications and localized anesthesia for comfort. When it is time for your pet to go home, we review the post-procedure care plan with you, including any medications to manage discomfort or pain.
Cleaning and polishing
During a dental cleaning and polishing, we clean the patient’s teeth, including below the gum line, with an ultrasonic scaler, and then we polish the teeth.
Tooth extractions
Sometimes it is necessary to extract a badly diseased or damaged tooth. This is important for the comfort and overall health of the patient. When we feel a tooth needs to be removed, we use medications and local anesthesia to minimize any discomfort for our pet patients.