Cervical neck lesions result from a progressive destruction of the enamel resulting in slowly deepening “holes” in affected teeth. Once the sensitive parts of the tooth are exposed, these lesions are intensely painful, and the only proven available treatment is to extract the tooth. The cause of this disease is unknown; however, poor oral health can play a role in the disease-process.

If you see that your cat has evidence of tartar accumulation, gingivitis or is exhibiting any signs of mouth pain or discomfort, you should take it to your veterinarian for an examination. You will be advised of the most appropriate course of treatment, which may involve having the cat’s teeth examined and cleaned under general anesthesia. The rate of tartar accumulation is very variable between individual cats, and in some cases this may necessitate professional cleaning on a regular basis such as every six to twelve months. Do not try to remove tartar from the teeth yourself using any form of metallic instrument. Aside from potentially harming your cat’s mouth or the cat harming you, you are likely to damage the tooth surface by creating microscopic scratches, which will provide areas for bacteria to cling to and encourage more rapid plaque formation, thus making the problem worse.

Tooth brushing

We recommend starting tooth brushing as early as possible in every pet. This can be done using a tooth brush, finger brush or some gauze around your finger tip. Ideally this should be done daily to all surfaces of teeth, but we realize this is not always possible. If your pet gets too stressed during brushing, you can just brush a few teeth at a time. Try dividing the mouth into sections and do one at a time as often as he/she will let you.

Remember to use treats (or “bribes”!) for positive reinforcement will make each attempt a little easier for you and your pet. Make sure to use toothpaste made especially for pets. Human toothpaste is made to be rinsed from the mouth, and is very irritating to dog and cat tummies when swallowed.

Dental Treats

We recommend “CET CHEWS” for dogs and cats. These are a great addition to home dental care, but should not be used more than a few times weekly. Remember some treats may contribute to weight gain and/or vomit/diarrhea especially if used in excess. Monitor your pet closely for any such changes or problems.

Providing your dog with appropriate chew toys can also help reduce plaque accumulation. Avoid hard nylon toys, cow hooves and bones, as these are hard enough to fracture teeth.

Dental Diets

We strongly recommend feeding a prescription diet to all healthy adult pets. We all feed our own pets either Hills T/D or Medi-cal Dental Diet. On top of providing high quality balanced nutrition, these foods are highly effective at removing plaque and tartar. If your pet is having trouble giving up his/her regular diet, you can try mixing one of the dental diets together with the regular diet or even using the kibbles as a daily treat.We stand behind our diets 100%.If you are considering a diet change please give us a call so we can recommend a diet choice that is safe for your pet. Always remember that any food changes should be done gradually over a 5-7 day period to avoid stomach upset.

Dental health contributes significantly to the overall health of our pets. The purpose of this handout is to provide clients with an overview of the high quality dental care provided through our Group of Hospitals.

Dental admit appointment

This includes a full consultation with you. The nurse will answer any questions you may have and discuss the estimate of costs. The doctor performs a complete physical exam and reviews results of pre-anesthetic blood work to determine the safest anesthetic protocol for your pet.

General anesthesia

General anesthesia is required to perform a thorough dental examination and treatment. An injectable agent, or premedication, is given prior to anesthetic induction. Premedication provides sedation, protects against the negative side effects of anesthetic agents and decreases pain and discomfort in the postoperative period. Once the premedication has taken effect, and your pet is placed on intra-venous fluids, an injectable anesthetic is given to achieve general anesthesia. At this point, a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) places an endotracheal tube to ensure safe and efficient delivery of oxygen and anesthetic gases to your pet. General anesthesia is maintained with isoflurane, one of the safest anesthetics currently available for veterinary use.

Supragingival and Subgingival scaling

Dental forceps and a mechanical scaler (the same instruments used by your dentist) are used to remove calculus from the crowns of the teeth. A handheld curette is used to gently remove calculus and debris from

beneath the gum line, where periodontal disease begins.

Polishing

All tooth surfaces are polished, above and below the gum line, using a disposable flared rubber cup and fluoride polishing paste. Polishing removes etching caused by scaling and creates a smooth, glass-like surface to discourage plaque from adhering to teeth.

Flushing (subgingival irrigation)

A disinfecting oral rinse is used to flush beneath the gum line to remove all remaining debris from the oral cavity.

Examination, Charting and Dental X-Rays

A Veterinarian conducts a thorough examination of the teeth and oral cavity. Any irregularities of the teeth and supporting structures are charted on the surgical record. At this time, the veterinarian evaluates the oral x-rays to determine what extractions and/or other treatment may be required.

Dental discharge appointment

One of our Registered Technicians provides an overview of the dentistry and instructions for postoperative care. A dental kit is available for interested clients.

Dental Progress Evaluation

We like to see the patient back 14 days after the dentistry for a progress evaluation to ensure proper healing and to discuss home dental care.