Pet Dental Health

By: Michael Lamping, DVM

Veterinary teams focus a great deal of energy on the prevention of oral diseases in pets.  Why does dental health get the privilege of an intensive efforts?  Because every dog and cat has teeth and needs preventative care in order to keep them healthy.  Without preventative care, plaque accumulates and promotes bacterial infection which can advance in severity until tooth attachment is obliterated and preservation is hopeless.  To prevent the infection in the first place, I recommend that all pets receive an annual dental exam.

During wellness examinations, I look for tartar, gingivitis, halitosis, loose teeth, ulcers, oral masses, and foreign bodies such as hair, seeds, or grass.  If present, then a dental cleaning is needed.  A comprehensive dental exam and cleaning are only possible under anesthesia.  This allows for complete evaluation of each tooth and the surrounding tissues.  It also allows for dental radiographs. 

Murphy Road Animal Hospital now has the capability for high detail dental radiology.  Since most of the tooth lies below the gumline, radiographs enable visualization of the entire tooth, from crown to root and pulp cavity in between.  Dental radiographs find hidden fractures, impacted teeth, and characterize whether bone loss has occurred.  If a primary tooth fails to shed when expected, then we need to know prior to extraction whether the permanent tooth is beneath it.  The greatest benefit of dental radiology comes in the assurance that the entire tooth is healthy.  I recommend that have your pet examined to ensure that your companion has oral comfort and cleanliness.