Questions you Might Have About Your Pet's Dental

 Why is it important to get my pet's teeth cleaned?

Without proper care, both at home and at the clinic, your pet's teeth can cause many major problems concerning his/her health. These problems can range from tartar to serious periodontal disease, which can contribute to heart, kidney or liver disease. Your pet?s mouth is an open passageway for bacteria, and cleaning out that bacteria will overall help sustain your pet's health and longevity.

 

What is the purpose for dental X-rays?

During the initial exam and cleaning, abnormalities such as a fracture or an oral lesion, which could indicate periodontal disease need to be x-rayed.  By taking x-rays we can see if there is a problem below the gum line. This can include the tooth, the root of the tooth, and the jaw bone. X-rays are good diagnostic tools to help asses your pet's dental health, and to allow us to treat your pet the best we can.  Below you can see the enamel eaten away by a resorptive lesion, similar to a cavity.  This patient (red arrow) was very painful and hiding prior to removing this bad tooth.  Look at the x-ray below with the blue arrow.  This patient came in for a routine dental.  From the surface this tooth appeared normal and we had only noted a small resorptive lesion (similar to a cavity) and decided to x-ray.  Once the tooth (blue arrow) was x-rayed it revealed the diffuse decay, it is difficult to see the tooth but you can make out the outline and see the decay inside.


 

 

 My pet's teeth have been cleaned, what's next?

When you come to pick up your pet, the doctor and or nurse will talk to you about the procedure and go over any findings that might indicate disease and show you the x-rays taken. Since your pet's mouth has been fully evaluated, we can now discuss with you the need for possible extractions. This procedure can be completed the same day or will be scheduled for a later date depending on the severity of the problem.  Further recommended home care that will improve the overall health of your pet's mouth may also be recommended.   The pictures below show before and after teeth cleaning.  According to this patient?s mom, he was quiet, sleeping a lot before the teeth were cleaned.  Now, patient is playful, eating much better.  

 

 Before (Teeth Cleaning)




 After Teeth Cleaning

Why are some extractions necessary?

Fractured teeth, bone loss, and lesions are all reasons for extractions. By keeping these teeth in the mouth, it could be causing your pet unnecessary pain. By extracting these bothersome teeth, we can relieve that pain. It can also help prevent further disease and complications.  It is usually less painful to have a missing tooth than a rotten one.

What is the cost of teeth cleaning? I know this can vary but can you give me an idea?

Our dental cleanings are based upon your pet's needs. Depending upon your cat's health and severity of dental disease, our prices vary depending on the appropriate medical plan. The range for dental cleanings (under anesthesia) is $260-290. This price always includes a thorough dental exam while under anesthesia, probing of the gingival pockets and ultrasonic and/or hand scaling and polishing. If any abnormalities are observed, cavities/root exposure/etc, we will take dental radiographs (X-rays) at an additional cost. If your pet has severe dental disease or another medical condition we will administer IV fluids during the procedure at the discretion of the doctor.  There are additional costs for extractions if needed. 

There are many possibilities regarding dental health, so it is hard to quote for each scenario until we see your cat for an exam. We also recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork screening before any anesthetic procedure. 

If you have any more questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at 972.394.9CAT(228).

 

Check out our at home dental care page too! We have easy to follow programs for cats and dogs to introduce them to teeth brushing.