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Dental Care

It’s a fact that almost 85% of dogs and cats over the age of 3 have gingivitis and tartar issues that require professional dental care.

  • ​Similar to humans, four hours after eating, bacteria, saliva, and food can start to accumulate on your pet’s teeth.
  • This is the formation of plaque. The bacteria in plaque excrete toxins and break down the gums causing inflammation and bad breath.
  • Plaque if not removed, builds up on the teeth and forms tartar. Plaque and tartar on the teeth lead to gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontal disease (inflammation and disease of the structures of the tooth).
  • It is important to note that the bacteria building up in your animal companion’s mouth can lead to other infections in the body such as heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease, skin disease and prostate disease
Signs of dental disease in your four-legged friend include:
  • Discolored teeth
  • Red/inflamed gums
  • Missing teeth
  • Drooling
  • Swelling below the eye, possible abscess
  • Reduced appetite
  • Rubbing or pawing at the mouth
  • Swelling around the muzzle or below the eyes
  • Reluctance to play or chew toys

That’s why East-West Animal Hospital provides a complete dental and oral health evaluation as part of each pet’s root-ine bi-annual examination. We also discuss oral health and home care regimens during each visit, beginning when your pet is a puppy or kitten, and continuing through all phases of life.  Because your pet’s oral health is of such importance for your pet’s over-all well-being, we have developed plans to make dentistry affordable and accessible for all of our clients.

Your pet’s oral health evaluation, the doctor will give your pet a grade based on a dental grading scale of grade 0 to grade 4.

What Is a Dental Cleaning?

During a dental cleaning (sometimes called a prophylaxis), plaque and tartar are removed from your pet’s teeth, and the health of the entire mouth (tongue, gums, lips, and teeth) is assessed. A thorough dental cleaning can be accomplished only while the pet is under general anesthesia. Anesthesia keeps your pet free of pain during the dental procedure and allows the veterinarian to fully inspect the teeth and remove tartar from under the gums. During anesthesia, a soft plastic tube is inserted into the trachea (the main airway in the throat) to support the patient’s breathing. Placement of the tracheal tube also prevents inhalation of bacteria that are aerosolized during the dental cleaning.
ALL our dental procedures include the following:

  • Anesthesia.  Pre-surgical blood work is required to ensure your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.
  • Dental radiographs (X-rays) to evaluate problems below the gumline
  • Removal of visible plaque and tartar from the teeth
  • Elimination of plaque and tartar from under the gum
  • Probing of dental sockets to assess dental disease
  • Removal of fractured or infected teeth
  • Polishing to smooth enamel scratches that may attract bacteria
  • Dental charting so progression of dental disease can be monitored over time
  • Inspection of the lips, tongue, and entire mouth for growths, wounds, or other problems
  • Full-mouth dental radiographs