|
Written by Peter D. Bates, DVM Questions to Ask: |
|
Whether or not anesthesia is used,
when you consider having your pet’s teeth cleaned, ask these questions of the
provider: |
|
Will you clean all sides of every
tooth? |
|
Will you clean below the gingival
margin (gum line) as well as above it? |
|
Will you probe around each tooth to
find any areas of attachment loss? |
|
Will you take dental x-rays of any
areas that have pocketing, loose, missing, discolored or fractured teeth? |
|
If the answer to any of these
questions isn’t “Yes,” look elsewhere for your pet’s dental care. |
|
In addition, ask who will be doing
your pet’s dental cleaning. What are their qualifications? How will the
doctor be involved? Who will do the oral examination? If someone other than
the doctor is involved, is this person an employee? Who is responsible if
there is a problem? If extractions are needed, who will do this? |
|
What
About Anesthesia Risks? |
|
No
one should pretend that anesthesia doesn’t entail some risk. Fortunately,
today these risks are very low for healthy animals, even those of advanced
age. Underlying medical conditions may increase the risks associated with
anesthesia. You should discuss these issues with your veterinarian, along
with his or her plans to minimize risk. |
|
Things
to Remember: |
|
Periodontal
disease is the most common disease of dogs and cats. it is caused by
infection below the gingival margin (gum line). It has little to do with the
calculus (tartar) that is seen on the crowns of the teeth. Just removing
calculus from the crowns does nothing to address periodontal disease and it
creates a false sense of security. |
|
Signs
of Periodontal Disease: |
|
Calculus: While not the primary
problem, calculus may accumulate at an abnormally high rate when an animal is
not chewing its food normally. This often indicates underlying dental
disease. |
|
Halitosis: Probably the most
common sign of periodontal disease, halitosis is caused by the associated
bacteria and decomposing periodontal tissue. |
|
Gingivitis: Inflammation, or
redness of the gingiva indicates the presence of periodontal disease. It is
important to intervene early if gingivitis is present. |
|
Loose Teeth: When
teeth loosen, it often indicates end-stage periodontal disease. |