Your pet's oral health is crucial to their overall health. Two common dental problems in pets are periodontal disease and fractured teeth.  Periodontal disease is the most prevalent pet disease.  It is present in nearly all dogs and cats over the age of five.  Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection in the gingival sulcus.  This is the area where we floss our teeth.  periodontitis eventually causes a loss of the tooth attachment, which leads to discomfort and premature tooth loss.  In addition, the infection is able to enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body.  Long- term effects can be deleterious to the heart and other organs of the body.  In summary, periodontal disease can shorten your pet's life. During routine physical exams, we find an amazing number of pets with fractured teeth.  The teeth most effected are the large premolar and molar teeth in the back. These are the teeth used to chew and grind food and toys.  Rarely do patients with broken teeth show outward signs of pain.  The nerve root structure is identical to ours, therefor we know these teeth must hurt!  If the tooth fracture is just a chip, usually no treatment is indicated.  If the tooth's root is exposed, either a root canal or extraction is the only option.

Maintaining healthy teeth and gums requires a combination of home care, regular oral exams, and periodic dental cleanings  by our staff.  For home care suggestions, see www.veterinarypartner.com, and then choose the dental care series.  In addition, our staff would be happy to help with our recommendations.

Dental cleaning procedure

Dental Cleaning (Prophylaxis)

The only way that a thorough oral exam and cleaning can be done is while your pet is  under general anesthesia.  Non-anesthetic teeth cleanings are cosmetic only, and don't  treat the real problem, which is below the gum line. Palomar Animal Hospital takes pride in    the level of dental care that we provide.  Our doctors and technicians all have a special  interest in dentistry.  Rest assured that with our trained staff, state of the art dental equipment, including digital dental x-rays, your pets will receive the best in dental care.

       Same patient as left image, following cleaning