Your fur baby’s dental health plays a significant role in their overall health, comfort, and quality of life.
Your fur baby’s dental health plays a significant role in their overall health, comfort, and quality of life. As pet parents, it’s crucial that we provide our pets with proper dental care and take them to the vet for an oral exam at least once a year to check for early signs of dental disease and maintain your pet’s oral hygiene. Listed below are some of the services provided for veterinary dental care at Mount Carmel Animal Hospital (MCAH).
Complete Exam Including and Oral Exam
Annual oral exams are an essential component of your pet’s complete physical exam. An oral exam is part of every exam at MCAH. Our veterinarians examine your pet’s teeth to check their dental health, identifying early signs of dental disease keeping your pet’s mouth healthy. An oral exam involves a thorough inspection of your pet’s oral cavity, including teeth, gums, lips, tongue, and throat area for signs of:
- Gingivitis
- Tartar buildup
- Receding gum line
- Fractured, broken, or missing teeth
- Oral masses
- Lesions
Preanesthetic Bloodwork
Preanesthetic bloodwork is recommended for all animals undergoing anesthesia. It allows veterinarians to evaluate your pet’s overall health status, measuring their organ health through blood values of specific enzymes. It allows our veterinarians to tailor your pet’s treatment plan according to the information their bloodwork provides.
Anesthesia
Anesthesia is necessary to thoroughly evaluate your pet’s mouth during teeth cleaning and treatment for painful dental procedures. Pet parents are sometimes concerned about their pets undergoing anesthesia for a dental exam or procedure; however, anesthesia-free dental care isn’t as safe, thorough, or effective. Dental anesthesia is vital for completing dental cleaning. Anesthesia at Mount Carmel Animal Hospital includes careful monitoring of your baby throughout the entire procedure. We will watch your pet’s heartrate and EKG, blood oxygen levels, carbon dioxide levels, respiration, temperature, and blood pressure at all times. We also utilize ventilators to ensure your baby is getting the oxygen they need.
Dental Radiographs
Dental radiology is a crucial tool used in veterinary dentistry. Radiographs show us below the gum line, allowing us to identify hidden issues that can’t be seen in other conditions. Dental radiographs are important for helping veterinarians make accurate diagnoses to implement proper treatment plans. Dental radiographs are also essential for performing dental procedures and cleaning, evaluating the success, and documenting dental and oral health.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
MCAH’s pet dental cleaning service includes ultrasonic cleaning. Ultrasonic cleaning is a dental procedure that removes plaque and tartar from the tooth’s surface, especially above and below the gum line. Ultrasonic cleaning is key in preventing and alleviating common signs of dental disease.
Extractions
Although we prefer for your pet not to lose their teeth, we don’t want their health to be put at risk or for them to live in pain and discomfort. In order to preserve your pet’s health and comfort, any loose, fractured, or diseased teeth have to be extracted. Dental radiographs allow us to fully evaluate your pet’s teeth to determine if extractions are necessary.
Polishing and Fluoride Treatment
Polishing is the next and final step in your pet’s dental procedure. done after plaque and tartar have been removed from the tooth. Polishing the teeth helps smooth the surface of the tooth enamel, preventing future plaque buildup. After polishing, a layer of fluoride will be applied. Applying a fluoride treatment helps strengthen teeth, prevent decaying, and prevent future plaque and tartar buildup.
At-Home Care
Last but not least, we will send you home with instructions on how to care for your pet and their teeth after their procedure. Some pets are sent home with antibiotics and pain medication depending on the severity of their dental disease when they came in. We will also go over recommended at-home dental hygiene. The best way to treat dental disease is to prevent it! As with all things pet related, we are your partners in care and will help you every step of the way to make sure your fur baby lives a long and happy life!
Here at Mount Carmel Animal Hospital, We’ll Treat Your Pets Like Family!
Mount Carmel Animal Hospital has been serving the Northern Baltimore/Southern York community for over 30 years and is proud to be an independently operated, small animal practice committed to excellence in veterinary medicine and client service. From grooming to wellness services, along with Canine Life Skills Training Courses, and surgical procedures, we have the expertise that will best serve the needs of you and your pet. Contact us at 410-343-0200 and follow us on Facebook!