Dental disease in an infection resulting from a build-up of soft plaque on the surfaces of the teeth around the gums.  When plaque builds up overtime it hardens and becomes tartar – a brown accumulation we see on some pets’ teeth.  Tartar has a rough surface – ideal for even more bacteria and plaque to cling to!  The bacteria irritates the gum tissue, eventually leading to gingivitis (inflamed gums) which in turn can develop into gum recession, bleeding, oral pain and tooth loss.

It is very difficult to remove the hardened tartar without a general anaesthetic and a mechanical de-scaling of teeth but luckily, we can easily remove the soft plaque at home before it hardens by brushing daily.  In addition, a dental diet, such as Hills t/d (tooth diet) or an approved dental chew can help to remove plaque.  Daily oral care will help to keep painful gum disease at bay as well as reducing the likelihood of a general anaesthetic to carry out surgical dental treatment.  This will avoid unnecessary veterinary fees.

Bad breath is commonly noticed.  This is a clear indication that some oral care is required, but often is the tip of the iceberg.  In some cases, the roots and surrounding structures may become so severely affected by the resulting gum disease that teeth become loose and painful, and either begin to fall out or require surgical removal.  Bacterial surrounding the roots can then gain access to the blood stream and spread around the body, causing damage to other organs such as the heart.

It is safe to assume that our pet's feel dental discomfort and pain in a similar way to us.  This isn't always easy to detect at home as your pet will often continue to eat normally, despite having a sore mouth.  Their drive to eat can supersede the pain and discomfort they feel - and is why dental examination and taking the advice of your vet is necessary to protect your pet's health and welfare.  Our owners often comment how much happier their pet is after having their dental.  More comfortable mouth, happier pet!

At Millennium, we recommend regular examinations of your pet’s mouth and teeth.  Our MVP Care Plan includes 2 set veterinary examinations a year, click here for more information.  We will advise you if early intervention is needed.  Some pets may require periodic scaling and polishing under anaesthetic – to help prevent this, ongoing daily home care for plaque control is necessary.  Much like humans!

A full oral examination can be carried out once your pet has been anaesthetised.  An instrument know as a periodontal probe is used to check every tooth and the surrounding gums.  Dental x-rays may be advised – teeth are like icebergs, as a significant amount of the tooth remains unseen below the gum line!  X-rays allow us to assess the tooth roots and jaw bones identifying any concerns underneath the gum line which for example, may indicate a tooth needs to be removed.

Dental charting and clinical notes are important, dogs in particular have a lot of teeth!   Puppies have 28 baby teeth which fall out and replaced by 42 adult teeth.  Cats have 26 baby and 30 adult teeth. Compared with us, we have 20 baby and 32 adult!).   record the health of each tooth: level of plaque build-up, presence of gingivitis, presence of gum recession around each tooth, any fractured teeth or defects, missing teeth and which teeth have been extracted during the pet’s dental procedure.  This chart is important for ongoing assessment and future examinations.

After a thorough examination we will remove tartar and plaque from the tooth surface and below the gumline using a ultrasonic dental scaler.  Any teeth needing extraction are removed surgically using specialised dental instruments.  Dissolvable sutures may be needed where a large tooth has been extracted.  However it is also common to leave the gum to close naturally as it can be quick to heal.  The vet will assess each extraction site and treat as required.  Finally your pet's teeth are polished to leave a smooth surface.

Does all this sound familiar?!  Yes as this is carried out in human dentistry, but more often without the need for a general anaesthetic!

After your pet’s dental we will schedule a post-dental nurse check.  Following more complex dental procedures a post-dental vet check may also be required.  Further communications will be sent inviting you for a dental check-up with one of our nursing team to check progress.  Our nurses are best placed to discuss and plan your pet’s oral care routine and demonstrate tooth brushing.

How do I know my pet has a dental problem?
Signs to look out for include: smelly breath; reddened gums; broken or worn down teeth; discoloured teeth; facial swellings; not eating easily, dropping or gulping food or off their food; hesitant to chew or play with toys, becoming head shy; drooling or excessive salivation, overgrooming or lack of grooming.  If you are in any doubt please book a vet appointment.

Why does my pet have smelly breath?
Halitosis (smelly breath) most commonly originates from plaque build-up on the teeth.  The smell will worsen as the plaque continues to build-up and will lead to gum disease.  Doggy breath is not normal and you should contact us for advice.

My pet is not in pain, so can I just wait and see what happens?
Pets do not exhibit the external signs of pain as we do ourselves.  The behavioural changes that animals show can be very subtle.  We often see very advanced dental disease with extensive surgical work needed, by the time our patients show pain to their owners.  For example, many pets will just chew food on the non-painful side of their mouth or even swallow their food whole in order to eat without pain and discomfort.

I know my pet needs dental treatment but I am worried about the anaesthetic.  What are the risks involved?
All anaesthetic procedures carry a risk, however our modern anaesthetic drugs and techniques, trained staff and practice protocols are all designed to minimise risk.  We can discuss your concerns further during your vet appointment as your pet's needs will be individual to them.  We may recommend that a pre-operative blood test is taken to check key health parameters which may alter our approach to the anaesthetic or even delay dental treatment.

Are dental x-rays really necessary?
Most of the tooth structure is below the gumline, so in some cases x-rays are needed to help reveal the extent of your pet's dental disease.  Some procedures will routinely require dental x-rays before and/or after tooth removal and treatment.  Often by taking dental x-rays we can plan our treatment approach more efficiently - reducing the length of your pet's anaesthetic and reducing the resulting veterinary fees.

Will my pet insurance company pay for dental treatment?
Yes, usually.  It is worth checking with your insurance company, what is covered and the excess and co-payments to be paid before the remaining fees are settled.  For further information on claiming under your insurance please click here.

My pet doesn't let me brush its teeth - what else can I do?
Daily tooth brushing is by far the best way to prevent gum disease - just like us humans!  A pet safe toothpaste and appropriate finger brush or pet toothbrush are needed with a gentle slow gentle approach to training this skill.  Don't expect your dog or cat to be able to tolerate having their teeth brushed straight away!  This needs a little time and patience to allow them to learn this new skill and be comfortable with it!  Please speak to our nursing staff and they can help you achieve this.
Where brushing really isn't an option, other dental aids can be useful - such as veterinary prescription dental diet (Hills t/d); oral washes or oral wipes; dental chews and/or enzymatic plaque removing solutions added to your pet's water.

Please contact us for further information on your pet's dental health.