Dedham Veterinary Associates

DVA 326 Bridge Street * Dedham, MA 02026 * 781.326.2800

Dental Care and Disease

Why does my pet need a dental cleaning?

A professional dental cleaning is the only way to properly treat tartar build-up, gingivitis and periodontitis. Periodontitis is a mouth infection. This is not simply a matter of having “ugly” teeth or bad breath. This is beyond aesthetic appearance. The bacteria from infected teeth and gums can spread to the urinary tract causing kidney and bladder infections, as well as the liver, and the heart valves. A chronic mouth infection will also adversely affect your pets immune system, as if he or she is always fighting a mouth infection, he or she may not be able to fight off other infections properly or possibly could end up aquiring immune mediated diseases of the skin and joints. At Dedham Veterinary Associates, our philosophy of medicine is to act preventatively. If your pet is diagnosed with periodontitis or a mouth infection, we will recommend a dental cleaning as we feel this presents a very real health risk to your pet that could not only result in a painful tooth root infection, but also a shortened life span due to the consequences of a chronic, smouldering infection which is not treated. If the dental disease is severe you may be instructed to start your pet on antibiotics prior to the dental cleaning. Severely diseased teeth are very painful to your pet and usually require extraction. Periodontal disease is debilitating and painful. Often there are no outward signs of this disease, as your dog or cat will continue to act normally and eat normally. If your dog or cat has tartar buildup, gum recession, reddened gums, or bad breath, rest assured, he or she has dental disease which is in need of treatment! One of the most important things you can do for your dog or cat if you want them to live as long as possible, is to make sure they have excellent oral health -- this means a professional dental cleaning if its needed. Most board certified veterinary dentists will recommend an annual dental cleaning for your pet. We will examine your pet and point out any dental disease we find. After your pet has been examined, we will make specific recommendations for dental care if appropriate.

What happens when my pet is admitted for a dental cleaning?

General anesthesia is required for the dental cleaning procedure. Pre-anesthetic blood work is performed to help ensure that your pet will be safe under anesthesia. Dedham Veterinary Associates uses only the safest forms of anesthesia and pain control, in fact the gas anesthesia and many of the drugs are exactly the same as would be used for an elderly human. Once anesthetized, your pet’s teeth are ultrasonically descaled and polished. The veterinarian can then fully examine the teeth. All problems are recorded and appropriate therapy can be decided upon. Dental films may be required to see what pathology lies below the gums. Mild periodontal problems can be treated with intra-oral therapy at the time of the dental. Usually a course of antibiotics will follow. Severe periodontal problems may require dental extractions. All teeth are treated with fluoride before your pet is recovered from anesthesia. Once fully awake, your pet can go home the same day and resume normal activity.

Why would my pet need dental extractions?

Teeth can require extraction for a variety of reasons. Usually periodontal disease is the culprit. Periodontitis is gingivitis that has progressed to infection under the gum and at the tooth root. This is a very painful condition. It can become so severe that much of the bone holding the tooth in place rots away. When periodontitis reaches this stage, there is little that can be done to save the affected tooth. With extraction and antibiotic therapy, the infection can be cleared and the pain of periodontitis goes away. Fractured, damaged and crowded teeth along with poorly occluding teeth may require extraction. Cats often get a peculiar problem called, odontoclastic resorptive lesions, for which there is little therapy other than extraction. These are very painful and lead to the tooth breaking and becoming infected at the root level if not extracted. A cat will continue to eat normally despite this lesion. Owners will often report a change in temperament only after the painful teeth have been removed. Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORLs) or cat cavities are one of the most painful conditions seen in veterinary medicine.

I was told my pet is too old for anesthesia, is this true?

Not only has veterinary anesthesia become markedly safer in the past five years, but the thinking about treating dental disease has also changed. First of all, there is no such thing as “too old” for anesthesia. Older animals do tend to get diseases as they age, but old age itself is never a reason not to treat a serious mouth infection. If your pet has normal pre-anesthetic lab values and a healthy heart and lungs on physical examination, his or her anesthetic risk is no different than for a younger animal. Patients that do have abnormalities on their lab work or examinations may need additional tests to determine their anesthesia risk, but often, untreated dental disease is much, much riskier to an animal than mild to moderate kidney or heart disease in the long run. If this is the case for your pet, we will explore the risk/benefit of performing veterinary dentistry under anesthesia.

How can I prevent dental disease?

Daily tooth brushing is the best preventative for dental disease. Special dog and cat toothpastes and tooth brushes are designed to make the job easier. Never use human tooth paste as the fluoride in it will cause an upset stomach. It is easiest to start this routine when pets are young, but even an adult or older pet can be taught to behave for tooth brushing. Oral hygiene sprays and gels are available for pets that will not tolerate tooth brushing. New dental foods, such as Hill’s t/d, greatly help reduce tartar formation. Dedham Veterinary Associates recommends that every cat and dog get a few pieces of Hill’s t/d every day. Once your pet has had a dental cleaning, you can reduce the number of future dental cleanings needed by brushing your pets teeth daily. Some evidence suggests that daily dental hygiene can increase your pet’s lifespan as it helps prevent chronic dental disease and mouth infection.

Dental disease in the form of tartar buildup, gingivitis, periodontitis, and feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions is extremely common in veterinary medicine. Some pets will need yearly professional veterinary dental care under anesthesia. Others may not need any additional care. A complete oral examination is a very important part of your pet’s wellness care. Our goal is to provide the most current veterinary dental care available with the hope of helping your pet to live as long and happily as possible.

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