Teeth Before Cleaning

This is an advanced case of dental disease. However we frequently see mouths in this condition. This infection in the gums can result in the pet swallowing and be bombarded with huge amounts of bad bacteria. This can lead to heart and kidney disease. Once thing advance to this it can be hard to save all the teeth. But with proper dental hygiene the mouth can be greatly improved and the risk to systemic disease virtually eliminated.

After Cleaning notice that roots have receded due to sever tartar accumulation.

Is been estimated that nearly 80% of the dogs and cats that visit veterinary hospitals around the United States have serious dental problems. When you look in your pet’s mouth do you see tartar on the teeth? Can you see worn teeth? These easily observed things are often only the tip of the iceberg. The problems that you do see are only a fraction of those problems afflicting your pet. Cats and dogs rarely show signs of pain associated with broken teeth, chipped teeth, exposed root canals, cavities and periodontal disease (inflammation of the gums). We know from our own dental problems that these lesions cause discomfort. Your pet will get used to this disease, a day at a time, and does not demonstrate pain until the condition is advanced. We also know that if these conditions go uncorrected they may lead to serious illness including ulcerative stomatitis (open sores in the mouth) and heart disease. A proper teeth cleaning and assessment is the best way to thoroughly screen your pet’s mouth for problems. The initial assessment will take place when your pet is examined by one of our veterinarians. During this assessment the vet will grade your pet’s mouth. Grade one for mild dental disease, grade two for moderate disease and grade three for extensive disease. The next step in assessment is anesthesia, charting of the teeth, cleaning of the teeth and dental x-rays of the teeth. Kirkwood Animal Hospital has purchased a new dental x-ray machine and a digital x-ray processing unit. The new equipment is state of the art. Digital processing allows our staff to get impeccably detailed x-rays of your pets teeth in a very efficient manner. In most cases the x-rays are available, for review, on a computer screen within seconds. When we detect a problem we will call you and discuss the appropriate treatment options. Our goal in providing this service is to help keep your pet’s mouth healthy and pain free for years to come.