Topic Of The Month

So what can be done to treat oral disease?

First, we recommend that all pets have a routine annual physical examination at least once per year to detect any physical abnormalities or problems.  During the physical examination we will discuss with you any problems detected and discuss the recommended treatment options.   

If your pet has tartar on their teeth (a thick brown or yellow material) or we detect any teeth that are fractured, severely worn or diseased then a professional dental cleaning and oral exam is needed.  The cleaning will remove the accumulation of plaque and tartar on your pet’s teeth and then each tooth is polished to remove any small scratches on the surface of the tooth.  Once this is complete we will evaluate for any other problem teeth (ie. fractures, infection, loose teeth) or gum problems that may not be obvious when the pet is awake.   

Fractured, loose, diseased or infected teeth require dental x-rays to determine what is happening under the gum tissue and surrounding the tooth root.   X-rays are a very important part of evaluating problem teeth.  They allow us to determine the cause for loose teeth, if complications have developed from a fractured tooth, if infection is present surrounding the tooth root (abscess) and in some cases what kind of complications could arise from extraction.       

Once the teeth have been cleaned and all problems treated, we will discuss ways to keep the mouth healthy between cleanings.    Daily brushing of the teeth, tartar control chews, dental diets, oral disinfectants and dental sealants are just some of the things that are available to help maintain good dental health.  The route you choose will depend on your pet’s cooperation and the ability of each pet owner.  

Anesthetic Safety in Older Pets

We have many clients that express their concerns regarding the safety of general anesthesia in older pets.  We take great consideration with older pets and recommend having a full geriatric screen (Full Blood Chemistry, Complete Blood Count and Urinalysis) performed prior to any anesthetic procedure.  This allows us to detect any underlying organ dysfunction or problems that may increase their risk for anesthetic complications.  For the safety of all our patients, we require a baseline preanesthetic blood screening on all patients prior to an anesthetic procedure. 

How do I schedule an appointment to have my pet’s teeth cleaned?

If your pet has not had a physical examination within the last 12 months we recommend scheduling an appointment for a routine physical examination prior to the dental cleaning.   This appointment will help us determine your pet’s individual needs and allows us to estimate the cost for cleaning and/or treatment. 

To schedule a professional dental cleaning and polishing please call our office at (763) 560-6906 .  Dental’s are performed Monday through Friday and can be scheduled at any time.  This is a same day procedure meaning your pet will be discharged the same evening of the dental.  Your pet will need to be fasted 12 hours prior to the procedure so you cannot feed them or give them treats after 10 pm the night before the procedure, water can be available.   We like to have all patients here at 9 am to be checked in and to obtain blood samples for their preanesthetic screening. 

If you schedule a dental cleaning during our National Dental Health Months (Feb 1^st-March 29^TH), we will give you $25 off the cost of the cleaning and 10% off all dental products.