Teeth Cleaning

The base of our dentistry service is a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT). This is what every dental procedure starts with and should be performed on every cat and dog at least on an annual basis to ensure good oral health. Every patient receives full mouth dental x-rays, a full oral exam including probing and charting, ultrasonic scaling above and below the gumline and polishing of every tooth. This information is then used to develop a treatment plan to address any oral health abnormalities and this plan is relayed to the owner before any additional treatments beyond cleaning the teeth are done.

Cat and dog teeth are not much different than our own teeth. We brush our teeth 2-3 times per day to remove the plaque and food debris that builds up. We also get our teeth cleaned and assessed every 6 months to remove calculus and debris that brushing may have missed. If we do not take these steps to protect our teeth, plaque and tartar build up and the natural bacteria in our mouth can shift from good bacteria to a harmful population of bacteria. Our body’s immune system then reacts to these bacteria and causes inflammation (gingivitis) in the mouth. This early stage of dental disease is reversible if steps are taken early. However, if the inflammation continues, the bone and tissue that surround the teeth become damaged (periodontal disease) and irreversible bone loss, gingival detachment and recession occur. Not only does all of this inflammation cause pain and discomfort, but also can lead to significant changes to the heart, liver, kidneys, and brain, as this bacterium enters the bloodstream. We know from people that good oral health can increase longevity and reduce health complications.

It can be very difficult to brush your pet’s teeth, but even if you do, plaque and food debris can be missed. 80% of pets over the age of 3 have some level of dental disease. Small dogs breeds are especially prone to dental disease and can have significant disease as early as age 2. For this reason, we recommend starting annual COHATs at the age of 2 for large breed dogs and cats and 18 months for small breed dogs. If we wait to do dentistry when we see signs of oral disease, there is often much more significant disease going on than we realized, and the changes are irreversible. If your pet is over the age of 2 and has not had a COHAT, please give us a call.