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DENTISTRY
VETERINARY DENTISTRY
Dental disease is more common than most pet owners realize, with over 85% of dogs and cats over the age of 3 years suffering from periodontal disease. This particular disease starts to take hold when bacteria in the mouth form plaque, which sticks to the surface of the teeth. The next step involves the minerals contained within your pet’s saliva. These minerals cause the plaque to harden and form dental calculus (a.k.a. tartar). Health problems generally start to occur once this plaque and tartar spread underneath the gum line. This is because the bacteria cause damage to the soft tissue surrounding the teeth, as well as the bone structure of the tooth itself – this is known as periodontitis. Inflammation and redness of the gums also occur at this stage, which is known as gingivitis. If left untreated, periodontal disease can also cause jaw fractures due to weakening of the jaw bone, bone infection and most worryingly, detrimental changes in the heart, kidneys, and liver caused by bacteria from underneath the gum lines entering the bloodstream and being distributed throughout the body. All in all, dental disease is a lot nastier than most of us realize!
Algester Vet’s veterinary team provides a complete dental and oral hygiene service. During the initial consultation, the vet will grade your pet on the stage of their dental disease to help you understand the severity of their condition. We grade on 5 levels: Grade 0 means your pet’s teeth and gums are in good condition with no dental disease present; alternatively, Grade 4 means your pet has severe dental disease and requires dental radiographs to be performed as well as tooth extractions for broken, rotten and/or loose teeth. To make things easier for you, we have also graded our prices to suit the severity of the dental disease, as we understand that a Grade 1 dental scale and polish is a much shorter procedure than a Grade 4 procedure. This will allow you to correct the early stages of your pet’s dental disease at a minimal cost.
Thankfully there are a number of ways you can help your furry friend keep their pearly whites clean and healthy at home. This includes daily brushing of their teeth, the use of oral rinses, and giving specially designed dental food and treats. Algester Vet loves having their teeth cleaned, and your pet will thank you for keeping their teeth healthy too! Plus, their breath will be much nicer to endure when they want to give you cuddles and kisses!
