Dental exams are a vital part of your pet's overall health. Even when pets' teeth appear to be clean, bacteria can exist below the gum line and do damage that you can't see with the naked eye. That is why we encourage regular dental exams for all pets.
During the dental procedure your pet's teeth will be cleaned, scaled, and polished. A highly trained professional uses state of the art dental tools to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums, while eliminating tartar and plaque. This not only gives your pet white, beautiful teeth and better breath, it helps protect them from a variety of illnesses that result from poor dental health.
To learn more about the dental procedure and how proper dental care can help your pet live a longer, healthier life, please call us today at (405) 372-3200 .
Modern dental scaler and therapeutic equipment ensuring gentle, thorough oral prophylaxis.
The Four Stages of Periodontal Disease in Pets
Periodontal disease begins silently beneath the gum line and progresses through four distinct clinical stages: 1. Stage 1 (Gingivitis): Plaque accumulation causes localized inflammation and redness along the gum margin without bone loss. At this stage, the condition is 100% reversible with professional cleaning. 2. Stage 2 (Early Periodontitis): Bacterial toxin buildup leads to subgingival pocket formation and minor alveolar bone loss (less than 25%). 3. Stage 3 (Moderate Periodontitis): Significant bone loss (25% to 50%), gingival recession, root exposure, and painful pocket formation develop. 4. Stage 4 (Advanced Periodontitis): Severe bone loss exceeding 50%, tooth mobility, periodontal abscesses, or oronasal fistulas develop, requiring surgical extraction to relieve chronic pain.
Our Comprehensive Step-by-Step Dental Procedure (COHAT)
At Cimarron Animal Clinic, professional dental prophylaxis follows strict American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) guidelines under safe, endotracheal general anesthesia: 1. Pre-Anesthetic Blood Screening: Evaluates liver and kidney enzymes and platelet levels to confirm anesthetic drug safety. 2. Endotracheal Intubation & Airway Protection: A cuffed endotracheal tube delivers oxygen and isoflurane gas while preventing oral water and bacteria from entering the lungs. 3. Subgingival Ultrasonic Scaling: Advanced piezoceramic ultrasonic scalers remove calculus not only from the visible tooth crown but from deep beneath the gingival margin where destructive anaerobic bacteria thrive. 4. Subgingival Curettage & Root Planing: Hand instruments gently smooth diseased cementum and eliminate stubborn subgingival pockets. 5. High-Speed Polishing: Micro-fine fluoridated paste polishes microscopic enamel scratches created during scaling, slowing future plaque adhesion. 6. Subgingival Antiseptic Lavage: Chlorhexidine oral flush eliminates lingering debris and soothes inflamed gingiva.
At-Home Preventive Dental Care Tips
After your pet's teeth are professionally scaled and polished, maintaining oral health at home extends their sparkling smile: - Daily Toothbrushing: The gold standard! Use a soft-bristled pet toothbrush or finger brush with enzymatic poultry or beef-flavored pet toothpaste (never human toothpaste containing foaming agents or toxic xylitol). - VOHC-Accepted Chews & Diets: Look for products carrying the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of acceptance, which clinically verifies plaque-retardant properties. - Water Additives & Oral Gels: Antiseptic drinking water additives help inhibit oral biofilm formation between brushings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my pet have to be put under anesthesia for teeth cleaning?
Over 60% of tooth structure and periodontal disease lies beneath the gum line. A thorough, pain-free subgingival scaling, dental probing, and extraction cannot be safely performed on an awake animal. Anesthesia eliminates stress, prevents sudden movement, and ensures an endotracheal tube protects your pet's lungs from inhaled bacteria.
What are the primary signs of dental disease in dogs and cats?
Persistent bad breath (halitosis), red or bleeding gums, brown tartar buildup, dropped food while eating, chewing on one side of the mouth, pawing at the face, and sudden behavioral irritability.
How long does it take for a pet to recover from dental extractions?
Most pets recover comfortably within 24 to 48 hours following extractions with prescribed pain relievers and antibiotics. We recommend feeding softened canned food for 7 to 10 days to allow gingival sutures to heal.