Dentistry
A Keystone of Wellness
Dentistry
A Keystone of Wellness
Since animals, unlike most of us, must be fully sedated to have their teeth radiographed and cleaned, extra precautions are always taken at our clinic. All pets have an IV catheter in place and are intubated with an endotracheal tube. These measures provide safe and smooth induction and recovery. They also allow faster response in case of emergency. The inhalant gas that we use to maintain anesthesia is Sevoflurane – often used in human medicine. There are less expensive products, but Sevoflurane is the safest.
A Dental Prophylaxis is a thorough examination and cleaning of the teeth and gums. In every Prophylaxis (prophy) stage 2-5, we take full-mouth digital x-rays. What we can see under the gum-line is amazing. We can often detect and treat potential problem areas before they become serious. We chart the periodontal condition of the entire mouth in your pet’s medical records. Then the actual cleaning begins. Just like in human dentistry, we clean teeth through a combination of hand scalers, electronic scalers, and polishers. If the doctor feels fluoride application is warranted we apply it.
We take great pride in making your pet’s “prophy” visit as stress-free and pleasant as possible. With all the progress taking place in veterinary medicine, our pets are living longer, healthier lives. Keeping up on their dental health can play a huge part in keeping our furry “family” members at their best throughout their whole life!