Dentistry
Over 80 percent of dogs and cats have periodontal disease, resulting in inflammation of the gums and bone that hold the teeth in place. Dental disease causes pain and difficulty eating and can lead to other health problems. At Northside Veterinary Hospital, we offer a full range of basic and advanced veterinary dental care treatments for your pet.
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• General veterinary dentistry: cleaning and periodontal treatment
• Digital intraoral radiographs to diagnose problems below the gum-line
• Extractions for animals with severely infected teeth
• Advanced periodontal therapy to treat teeth that may otherwise need to be extracted
• Restorative procedures to protect damaged enamel
• Dental sealants to aid in periodontal prevention
• Oravet Chews, which are FDA approved, help prevent plaque buildup and maintain dental health.
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We recommend a yearly dental evaluation and grade periodontal disease on a 1-4 scale.
Since a complete dental cleaning and examination in cats and dogs requires anesthesia, we typically perform a pre-anesthesia examination and blood work to evaluate any possible underlying risks.
A trained veterinary assistant will clean the teeth using an ultrasonic dental scaler, to remove tartar on tooth surfaces. Hand scaling will be performed to remove tartar below the gum line. Once the teeth are cleaned, a doctor performs a thorough dental exam and will determine whether further treatment or extractions are necessary. The teeth are polished to decrease the attachment of tartar and dental sealants are applied to help prevent further disease.