Dentistry and Dental Care

Did you know that dental disease is the most common illness in pets, affecting more than 75% of cats and dogs by the age of 3?

When simply looking in your pets mouth, an animals’ dental health is as difficult for you to determine as it is for a veterinarian. Since 60% of the tooth is below the gum line, the severity of dental disease is unable to be adequately evaluated without a complete dental disease assessment under general anesthesia.  Dental disease prevention is vital in maintaining a healthy pet and is unfortunately often overlooked.  In addition to adequate at home dental care, routine dental assessment and treatment is required to maintain your pets health.  When dental disease is left untreated, the bacteria present can negatively affect multiple organ systems and cause or worsen heart, liver, and/or kidney disease.  Dogs and cats rarely display indications of oral pain but signs of dental disease are often apparent to the client.  Symptoms of dental disease can vary from bad breath, drooling, shying away from petting, weightloss, lack of appetite, visible plaque/calculus, and/or dropping food from the mouth and if present should prompt a thorough dental evaluation.

Our goal is to treat the dental disease through routine professional dental cleanings and provide the at home dental education required to minimize the severity of dental disease. We believe that through routine dental treatments and at home dental care, we can alleviate oral pain in your pet and improve his or her quality of life. 

At Andover Veterinary Clinic your pet will undergo a 3 phase program to ensure the best dental care for your pet and set them on the path to long term overall health.

Assessment

• Review Medical History
• Conduct a comprehensive examination, including blood, urine, and fecal tests and x-rays when indicated
• Perform a facial and oral exam focusing on painful, inflamed, or swollen areas
• Anesthetize the patient and perform a complete oral exam with full-mouth intraoral radiographs

Treatment

• Clean, polish, and probe all teeth one-by-one
• Address any abnormalities (periodontal disease, fractured teeth, missing teeth, extra teeth, rotated teeth, retained decidous teeth, oral tumors, tooth resorption lesions, etc.)

Prevention

• Teeth brushing
• Daily dental treats (C.E.T. Chews, Greenies, chew toys)
• Dental Diet

Help us to set your pet off on the right paw to a long and healthy life!

Visit these websites to learn more about Dental Health

Pet Dental

CET Dental

Dental Vet

Did you know?

• Oral disease is the #1 health problem diagnosed in pets
• 85% of all pets have some sort of tooth and gum disease by the time they are 3 years old
• Pets, like humans, are susceptible to plaque and tartar build-up which can lead to gingivitis and periodontitis
• Periodontal disease, which includes periodontitis and gingivitis, is an inflamation and/or infection of the gum and bone around teeth
• These conditions if left untreated can ultimately lead to loss of teeth, fracture of jaw bones, and other potentially painful consequences that will dramatically impact your pets quality of life and overall health