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Dental Care

Does your pet have bad breath? Discolored or loose teeth? Swollen or bleeding gums? Seem to have trouble chewing hard food as well as normal? If so, it is likely that your pet has periodontal disease. Dogs and cats are subject the same dental problems as humans are - even more so since we have better dental hygiene. Using chews or treats specifically designed to clean teeth and remove tartar can help, but sometimes your pet may need a comprehensive dental cleaning.

"Dog Breath" can be more than an annoyance. Chronic periodontal disease has been linked to other serious health issues in humans and animals. Gum disease can affect pets in other ways too: Loss of appetite, discomfort, and overall changes in attitude.

The Animal Hospital of Orleans can give your pet a dental check-up and if needed we can schedule a "Dental". A dental starts with a complete examination of the mouth, tongue, gums, and teeth. The teeth are then cleaned using an ultra-sonic scaler - just like the one your dental hygienist uses. The scaling removes tartar and plaque, even below the gum line. As each tooth is cleaned, it is also thoroughly examined for cracks, looseness, decay, and pockets in the gums. If a tooth is too badly damaged, or if gum disease has caused extensive bone loss around the tooth, it may have to be extracted. Surgical extraction of a tooth can prevent future infections and relieve the discomfort your pet is feeling.

Before and After Dental

We use the same safe anesthesia protocols for our dental procedures as for our surgical cases. For more information of our anesthetic protocols and monitoring click here.

The American Academy of Periodontology website has information on some additional health risks of periodontal disease in humans:

RESPIRATORY DISEASE. Research has found that bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be aspirated into the lungs to cause respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, especially in people with periodontal disease.

CANCER. Researchers found that men with gum disease were 49% more likely to develop kidney cancer, 54% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, and 30% more likely to develop blood cancers.

HEART DISEASE. Several studies have shown that periodontal disease is associated with heart disease. While a cause-and-effect relationship has not yet been proven, research has indicated that periodontal disease increases the risk of heart disease.

DIABETES. Diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease, which in turn can increase blood sugar and diabetic complications.

Sources:
www.perio.org/consumer/other-s...
www.perio.org/consumer/heart_d...
www.perio.org/consumer/diabete...