Early Dental Care, Lifelong Benefits
It’s important not to neglect your pet’s oral health. After all, our animals use their mouths much more than even humans do. Dental disease, plaque buildup, and other oral health concerns are best treated early before they become major issues.
Dental Disease
An estimated 80-percent of dogs and 70-percent of cats have some degree of dental disease by 3 years of age. We refuse to let your pet become part of that statistic, so we place a strong focus on preventive dental care for your pet.
Your pet’s overall health and comfort is one of our top priorities, and oral health is no exception. Our goal is to identify dental concerns before they reach advanced stages. After examining your pet’s teeth and gums, we’ll make recommendations specific to your pet.
If you have questions at all about your pet’s dental health, please call us at 781-433-0467.
Recognize the signs of dental disease!
- Bad breath
- Tartar and plaque accumulation
- Discoloration on the teeth and near the gum line
- Red and inflamed gums
- Pain or bleeding while eating or when your pet’s mouth is touched
- Pawing at the mouth
- Lack of appetite or trouble eating
- Loose or missing teeth
Why Veterinary Dentistry Is Important
Did you know proper dental care can add years to your pet’s life? It’s true! Maintaining good oral hygiene increases your pet’s health, vitality, overall well-being, and helps keeps the lifetime cost of care for your pet to a minimum.
In our experience, many pet owners overlook just how important dental care is for their cherished companions. That’s why we partner with you to make dental health a serious part of your pet’s overall care. If left untreated, dental disease causes pets significant pain, and can lead to serious systemic issues. This includes life-threatening damage to your pet’s heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys.
The cornerstone of strong pet dental health is a comprehensive oral exam and a thorough cleaning. At Highland Animal Hospital, dental cleanings include ultrasonic scaling, polishing, and a mouth rinse. This process effectively removes plaque from the teeth and slows growth. After your pet’s dental cleaning, our clinical team will recommend at-home care to keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy.
Veterinary Digital Dental Radiology
Not all dental diseases are apparent to the naked eye. In fact, most severe cases fall into this category. For that reason, our modern facility is equipped to perform digital dental radiography, which allows us to capture high-definition images below your pet’s gum line and jaw in order to identify signs of dental disease that cannot be determined by visual examination. This means we can ensure the treatment of hidden dental issues early on, before they evolve into larger, more painful, and costlier medical issues.
Should we discover indication of gum or tooth decay, gingivitis, or excessive plaque buildup, we’ll immediately review the details with you and present options for you to decide a course of action. All of our doctors are experienced clinicians, who are more than capable to handle a wide array of dental procedures.
At-Home Dental Care
Just like with our own dental health, we cannot rely solely on our dentists to keep our teeth clean. Plaque buildup, the primary cause of poor oral health, is a continuous process that occurs throughout the daily lives of your pets. Therefore, it’s important to provide your companion with regular at-home dental care.
Regular tooth brushing is recommended; however, we know that may not always be so easily accomplished. Don’t worry, you’re not on your own. Members of our team will happily demonstrate the proper procedure for caring for your pet’s teeth, as well as help you select the most effective dental products for your pet. We may recommend pet-specific toothbrushes, toothpastes, oral chews, oral rinses, and toys that are designed to remove plaque and tartar.