Dental care

Dental care: protecting your dog’s or cat’s oral health

Just like in humans, dental plaque and tartar build up on the teeth of dogs and cats. Over time, they can cause gum inflammation, bad breath and periodontal disease, which can lead to loose teeth and tooth loss. Dental scaling helps prevent or treat these problems and protect your pet’s oral health.

What does dental scaling involve?

Dental scaling involves removing tartar and plaque using an ultrasonic scaler. However, in dogs and cats, it is much more than simply cleaning the teeth: it is a comprehensive dental procedure.

The first step is a preoperative assessment, as general anaesthesia is essential and the patient is often older. The veterinarian begins by examining the entire oral cavity, paying particular attention to the condition of the gums, teeth and gingival sulci.

Each tooth is then cleaned on all surfaces, including below the gumline. The teeth are also polished to smooth their surfaces and slow down the build-up of plaque.

If some teeth are severely damaged or loose, extraction may be necessary. Some extractions are relatively straightforward, while others require the tooth to be sectioned so that its individual roots can be removed without breaking them. The gums are then usually sutured.

This thorough examination also helps identify any abnormalities in the oral cavity, including masses or gum tumours.

Why is dental scaling important?

The accumulation of plaque and tartar encourages bacterial growth, which is responsible for gum inflammation and periodontal disease.

Dental scaling helps to:

• Prevent or treat periodontal disease, which can damage the tissues supporting the teeth.

• Reduce bad breath caused by bacterial build-up.

• Relieve oral pain, particularly when damaged teeth need to be extracted.

• Preserve the teeth and prevent them from becoming loose whenever possible.

At what age and how often should your pet have dental scaling?

There is no specific age or universal recommended frequency for dental scaling. It all depends on the individual animal, its anatomy and its oral hygiene.

Small-breed dogs, for example, are particularly prone to tartar build-up. Their 42 teeth are packed into a small mouth, making plaque accumulation more likely.

In large-breed dogs and cats, dental care needs also vary from one animal to another.

Dental hygiene plays an essential role in prevention. Regular tooth brushing, ideally every day, helps limit plaque build-up and increase the time between dental scaling procedures. Certain dental chews and specially formulated dental diets can also help maintain good oral hygiene.

During consultations, we examine your pet’s mouth to determine whether dental scaling is necessary.

How is dental scaling performed at Vet Center?

Unlike dental scaling in humans, dental scaling in dogs and cats requires general anaesthesia. This allows the veterinarian to carry out a thorough examination and properly clean every tooth, including below the gumline.

Your pet must fast before the procedure, following the veterinarian’s instructions. Upon arrival, your pet receives premedication in your presence to help them relax.

Your pet is then taken into the care of our team, placed under general anaesthesia and intubated. Intubation helps protect the airways from accidental aspiration of fluids during the procedure.

Throughout the procedure, your pet is kept warm on a heating mat, and their vital signs are continuously monitored using appropriate monitoring equipment.

A preoperative assessment, including blood tests and, if necessary, cardiac examinations, may be recommended to assess the risks associated with anaesthesia, particularly in older animals.

Once your pet is anaesthetised and stable, the veterinarian carries out the oral examination, dental scaling, polishing and, if necessary, tooth extractions.