Pet Dentistry

Our Commitment

Veterinary dentistry is a major aspect of veterinary medicine. A healthy mouth is at the forefront of insuring a long, painless and happy life for our pets.
Advances in the field of dentistry now allows veterinary specialists to repair the teeth by placing crowns, or even perform invasive maxilla facial surgery.

AT CVH, WE HAVE THE SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT TO PERFORM 95% OF ALL DENTAL PROCEDURES

Cahuenga Veterinary Hospital 7-7-2021-148-5809

What to expect from our dental procedures

Our dental procedures are under general anesthesia.

We use the most advanced protocols and monitoring techniques to ensure the safest anesthesia possible. The procedure typically takes 1 to 2 hours, and after recovering in our hospital for a few hours, your pet will go home and be able to eat the night of.

We begin the procedure with a thorough oral exam, probing every tooth for pockets, advanced periodontal disease or loose teeth and then take full mouth radiographs. Because dental disease begins under the gum line (at the level of the roots) it is crucial to take dental X-rays to ensure a proper evaluation and therefore treatment of gingivitis/periodontal disease.

We then use mechanical and manual scalers to remove tartar and plaque on the surface of the tooth and under the gum line. Pets with advanced periodontal disease may need dental extractions, which are performed with the owners approval. We then polish the teeth to remove stubborn plaque and restore the scaled tooth surface for smoothness and plaque prevention. Once polished the teeth are sealed off with a prevention paste to further inhibit bacterial deposits and growth.

What about non anesthetic dental cleanings?

When you need to have dental work on yourself, the dentist will communicate with you to ensure minimal discomfort or pain. Pets however, do not understand the purpose and benefit of dental treatment and will react by moving or trying to escape, or may bite in some cases.

While they are less costly, non anesthetic dentals do not allow for the proper assessment and treatment of dental disease. Using a scaler on an awake patient is a very uncomfortable and stressful experience–and requires animals to be held immobile by multiple technicians. While the tartar may be superficially removed and give the impression of cleaner teeth, the root cause for periodontal disease is not addressed. Bacteria under the gum line will continue to damage the roots, allowing for deep pockets to form and harbor major infections.

At CVH, we consider non anesthetic dentals to yield poor results, while being an unnecessary cause of stress for the patient.

How to maintain a healthy mouth for your pet:

The most efficient way to diagnose early periodontal disease and ensure the longevity and overall oral health of your pet is to visit your veterinarian annually. Oral assessments are performed along with your pet’s wellness exam.

Some problems should trigger a additional dental examination in case of:

Halitosis (bad breath)
Loose tooth
Broken tooth
Tooth that is visibly covered with dark tartar
Teeth discoloration
Abnormal drooling, dropping food from the mouth or abnormal chewing
Reduced appetite and refusal to eat
Swelling on the face (this can be a sign of a growing abscess)
Pain that occurs when the mouth, or face is touched
Buccal bleeding or bloody saliva

Some pets can become irritable when they have dental disease, some owners have noticed a huge improvement in their pet’s behavior after a dental treatment, including reduced aggressive behavior, more enthusiasm to play or go on walks.

Keep in mind that a painful pet can bite when his mouth is examined.

What are some causes of dental problems in dogs and cats?

Although cavities are not as frequent in animals as they are in people, they can have many of the same dental problems:

Periodontal disease
Fractured teeth or roots
Teeth and root infection or abscess
Tumors or cysts on the gum, the tongue or the buccal mucosa
Misalignment of the teeth and bite also called malocclusion
Fractured jaw
Defect of the palate (cleft palate for example)

Periodontal disease is by far the most frequent dental condition in companion animals, the first signs of periodontal disease are usually observed around 3 years of age, and will continue to worsen as the pet gets older unless appropriate measures are taken.

There are 5 stages of periodontal disease from 0 (no disease) to 4 (severe).

Periodontal disease starts with plaque formed by soft accumulation of bacteria and debris with then becomes tartar. Tartar located under the gum line is damaging to the root of the tooth and leads to infection of the tissues attaching the toot to the jaw bone and the jaw bone itself.

Other health problems have been associated with early periodontal diseases, including kidney dysfunction, liver dysfunction or heart muscle changes.

Resources

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It can be stressful when preparing your pet for surgery. Here are some helpful tips to aid in preparation and recovery.

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At CVH, we have partnered with an online pharmacy to ensure that your prescription medication ordering process is as easy and affordable as possible.