Pet Dental Care For Healthy Teeth And Gums

Routine and restorative dental care is an important part of keeping your pet healthy and happy throughout life. Your pet's teeth and gums require regular cleanings to eliminate plaque and decay, which could lead to tooth loss. At Sun City Animal Hospital​​​​​​​, we provide ongoing preventative care to help keep oral problems at bay. If decay or disease processes damage the teeth and gums, we can provide your pet with restorative care to repair those structures and restore oral health.

Just as with humans, dental health is a key component of overall health and well-being. Bad breath isn’t just a nuisance, it can be a sign of an unhealthy mouth, infection, and dental disease. Bad breath is caused by bacteria which can lead to tartar and plaque buildup on teeth which can, in turn, lead to toxins getting into your pet’s bloodstream. The internal organs which filter the blood, such as the liver, heart, and kidneys can actually become diseased because of their exposure to these toxins. If your pet’s internal organs are compromised, that can negatively impact your pet’s health and shorten his or her life

Gum disease at its earliest stage is often silent, but it can quickly turn into periodontal disease, gum recession, bone loss, and infection. Did you know that over 80% of pets over the age of 3 years old have periodontal disease?

Signs of severe gum disease are:

• Bad Breath

• Head and mouth shyness

• Swelling of mouth or face

• Bleeding gums

• Excessive salivation

• Loose or broken teeth

• Dropping food or chewing on one side of the mouth

Pet Dentistry Procedure Overview

Even with regular home cleanings, some pets are susceptible to developing tooth decay or gum disease. Professional pet dental care can add another layer of protection against these problems and treat issues in need of restoration.

Preventative Oral Care

To keep plaque from penetrating the enamel layer, you can bring your pet into the clinic for tooth cleanings on a regular schedule. The technician will chip away plaque and other deposits between the teeth and along the gum line. During the cleaning session, your vet checks for signs of deep decay or gum disease. If all is well, the vet coats each tooth in a protective layer of fluoride to keep tartar from depositing on the surface.

Tooth and Gum Restoration

If the initial examination reveals tooth damage, your vet can perform restorative care to remove the decay and rebuild the tooth. The procedure is often performed with the pet under anesthesia to keep him or her comfortable throughout the visit. For pets with gum disease, vets may need to perform a deep cleaning, which includes removal of plaque deep in the gum pockets. Your pet's gums should start to regenerate after the plaque removal process renews blood flow and facilitates attachment to the root of the tooth.

Scheduling Pet Dental Care Appointments

If your pet requires routine dental care, or exhibits classic signs of an oral health problem, make an appointment at our clinic, Sun City Animal Hospital​​​​​​​. Your pet will receive a full dental exam to diagnose developing problems and a vet will create a comprehensive treatment plan. During the appointment, your vet will help you perfect your tooth and gum cleaning techniques. You may also receive information about toys and treats that can help keep oral health problems from developing or progressing. Before you leave the clinic, schedule the next appointment to establish an oral care routine.

Sun City Animal Hospital​​​​​​​ has state-of-the-art dental equipment including digital x-ray which enables us to accurately diagnose and treat your pet’s dental health. Not all veterinary facilities have and use dental x-rays when performing dental cleanings. We believe that it is an essential tool in proper dental care. Most dental disease occurs below the gum line where it cannot be seen. Using x-rays enables us to be proactive in our approach to dental health.

Anesthesia Pet Dental

With anesthesia pet dental cleanings, your pet will be placed under anesthesia so the experience is completely stress-free for them. Furthermore, our pet dentists are able to more thoroughly clean the teeth both on the surface and underneath the gum line, resulting in a better overall cleaning. With all of our anesthesia pet dental cleanings, we take serious precautions to ensure that your pet is safe. Specifically, we monitor all of your pet's vital signs throughout the entire procedure and while your pet is coming out of anesthesia. In fact, we use the exact same anesthesia procedures with dental cleanings as we do with pet surgeries, so you can enjoy the added peace of mind and rest assured that your pet is in good hands.

Anesthesia Pet Dental

We generally recommend anesthesia pet dental cleanings once a year to keep your pet's teeth nice and clean. You may also notice that, with regular dental cleanings, your pet has better breath. Sometimes, we will recommend more frequent dental cleanings, especially for pets who have already been diagnosed with advanced gum disease, but this will vary based on your pet's specific needs.

Schedule an Appointment for pet dental cleaning

If you are interested in scheduling a pet dental cleaning, contact Sun City Animal Hospital​​​​​​​ today. You can reach us at (803) 228-4020. We are serving Pineville, Matthews, Ballantyne, Providence, South Park, Quail Hollow, Rea Road, Weddington, Marvin, Indian land, Fort Mill and Rock hill areas. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is happy to answer any questions you may have about anesthesia pet dental or any of the other services we have to offer.

Pet Dental FAQ

Why does my pet need dental care?

Pets are much like humans when it comes to the need for proper and regular dental care—and the risks associated with not getting it. If the buildup of plaque on the teeth and gums is not brushed away daily, it becomes hard tartar. Tartar cannot be brushed away; only a veterinary dental cleaning can remove it. If your pet has growing tartar buildup, bacteria will proliferate there and damage the teeth and gums. This bacteria can even enter the bloodstream and hurt internal organs if not stopped.

What is periodontal disease in pets?

This is one of the most common health problems for pets. Pet periodontal disease is the damage that happens due to the bacteria inflaming the gums, working its way down into the bones that support the teeth. 80% of pets have this problem.

What are the symptoms of pet periodontal disease?

Many pets show no overt symptoms of dental disease, making a regular checkup very important for catching problems before they become dangerous. But these are the most common ones

• Foul breath

• Swollen, bleeding gums

• Loose or missing teeth

• Loss of appetite or apparent pain when eating or drinking

• Blood on bedding or chew toys

• Excessive drooling

How often do pets need a professional dental cleaning?

Our Sun City Animal Hospital​​​​​​​, agrees with the AVMA that pets should have a full pet dental exam and cleaning at least once a year—more often if there are established problems that require ongoing care.

How often should I brush my pet’s teeth?

Brush your pet’s teeth once a day. Try doing it in the evening when everyone is calm and make sure to be consistent.

What kind of toothpaste should I use to brush my pet’s teeth?

Our team here at Sun City Animal Hospital​​​​​​​, can recommend several brands of toothpaste formulated specifically for dogs and cats. They come in flavors like tuna, peanut butter, poultry, and other pet-friendly flavors. But never use human toothpaste on your pets as it can cause stomach upset.

Will my pet need to go under anesthesia for a dental appointment?

Yes, because we need to use sharp dental tools and be able to inspect all around inside of your pet’s mouth. Even the calmest pet will have difficulty allowing this level of inspection and handling inside of his or her mouth. We use the same safe and stringent anesthesia procedures that we use for pet surgery. If you have any other questions or need to schedule a pet dental appointment please contact us at (803) 228-4020​​​​​​​.