Dental Procedures

Every regular exam in our clinic includes a thorough dental exam. Your pet's teeth and mouth are prone to disease and decay just like yours. Problems usually start with a build up of sticky plaque that hardens to form tartar. If not removed, this can lead to gingivitis, a painful condition of inflamed gums, and eventually periodontal disease may develop. Pets may lose teeth and be prone to infections that may affect other organs in the body.

All animals undergoing dental procedures are treated with the same care as animals  undergoing surgery. To guarantee the safest outcome Cobble Hill Animal Clinic requires  all patients undergoing an anesthetic procedure have a pre-operative health exam, a diagnostic blood panel and on occasion, a electrocardiogram (EKG) to ensure kidney and  liver function are satisfactory for anesthesia.
 
Tooth scaling will be performed using both hand scalers and ultrasonic cleaning equipment to remove tartar both above and below the gum line. The tartar beneath the gum line causes the most significant gum recession. The teeth are then polished in order to help prevent subsequent plaque build up. It may be necessary to carry out extractions at the same time. Special applications such as fluoride, antibiotic preparations and cleaning compounds may be indicated to decrease tooth sensitivity, strengthen enamel and reduce plaque accumulation and bacterial infection.

Our facility has incorporated digital dental radiography to ensure we are providing your pet the absolute highest quality dentistry assisted by the latest diagnostic imaging technology. We take full mouth x rays to determine the condition of your pet's teeth and roots. These images give us a look inside so we can easily determine if a specific area of your pet's mouth is causing them any pain or discomfort.

These procedures will be fully discussed both before your pet's dental cleaning and when you bring your pet in for the procedure. Since it can be difficult to predict the extent of dental disease in advance of the procedure, it is imperative that your veterinarian is able to reach you during the procedure to discuss any additional treatment that may be necessary.