Untreated dental disease is a silent, and often unseen, robber of your pet's health and can actually shorten your pet's life span. Current estimates are that more than 85% of dogs and cats over 4 years of age have some form of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a painful inflammatory condition in which bacteria attack the gums, ligaments and bone tissues that surround and support the teeth. If left unchecked, bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and travel to major organs. The liver, heart, kidneys, lungs and even the brain are most susceptible to damage from oral bacteria.

On the average, pets over 4 to 6 years old will require routine dental cleanings every 6 months to a year. Daily brushing of teeth at home, use of oral rinses and feeding of special foods such as Hill's T/D will help minimize the frequency of dental cleanings. All dental procedures are preformed with the pet anesthetized. Prior to anesthesia, your pet will be thoroughly examined by a veterinarian and pre-anesthetic blood work will be recommended to minimize the risk of anesthesia. Intravenous catheters and fluids along with surgical monitors also minimize the risk anesthesia further. We, at Sunnybrook Animal & Bird Hospital, are committed to providing the best possible care for your pet, including dental care. Ultrasonic dental cleaning is performed followed by polishing with fluoride paste. Teeth are individually examined for problems. Abnormal appearing teeth are radiographed (x-rayed). Unlike most veterinary hospitals, we have an x-ray unit specifically engineered to provide quality, detailed radiographs of teeth. Diseased teeth may require treatments such as antibiotic therapy and, as a last result, extractions. We also have the ability to perform root canals to save some diseased teeth which minimizes the pain of oral surgery and maintains the normal structure and function in the mouth.

Many pet owners are also unaware that dental disease can even affect young animals. We frequently see retained baby teeth which can cause early decay and/or malpositioning of permanent teeth. Baby teeth that do not fall out when expected should be extracted and any malpositioning of teeth should be addressed. Pets with "bad bites" can also suffer oral pain and problems chewing which can be corrected with veterinary dentistry and orthodontia.

Dental disease is often not noticed by pet owners until it has advanced to the point of causing bad breath or causing problems with eating. Once those problems appear, teeth often have to be extracted to return the pet to health. Routine dental examinations and cleanings are an essential part of your pet's health maintenance program.

For the safety of our older patients an abbreviated chemistry profile is recommended before any anesthetic procedure.