ACG Animal Dentistry

All pets are at risk for developing dental problems. And just as it's true for people, it's a fact that periodontal disease can cause serious health problems for your pet. At the very least, it causes bad breath, pain, and tooth loss. If allowed to continue and progress, it can lead to heart, liver and kidney diseases. Just like you, your pet needs regular home and professional dental care.

General Signs of Dental Problems:

Bad Breath
Yellow-Brown tartar build up
Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
Drooling
Difficulty eating
Loose, broken, or missing teeth
Blood in saliva or nasal discharge

General Anesthesia is necessary in all cases for us to do a thorough dental examination and professional cleaning. We use only the safest anesthesia protocols.

Complete Dental Exam is performed before we begin any dental procedure. Any procedures done during the dental cleaning are documented in the patient’s chart.

Ultrasonic and hand scaling removes plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. A thorough scaling below the gum line is critical to the success of any dental cleaning, as this is where illness-causing bacteria hide.

Polishing smooths the surface of the teeth after scaling, making them resistant to additional plaque formation.

Oral Rinse Flushing removes dislodged tartar, plaque and bacteria from the mouth

The following are reasons why anesthesia or deep sedation is necessary for oral examination and dental procedures:

Humans cooperate during dental procedures; however, without anesthesia or deep sedation, dogs and cats do not.
Dental tartar is firmly attached to the surface of teeth and needs to be removed.
Scaling above the gum line offers nothing but cosmetic results. Scaling must be done below the gum line.
Scaling by ultrasonic scalers and sharp hand instruments are necessary in order to remove the dental tartar.
Any sudden movement can cause injury to the animal or individual performing the dental procedure.

Animals that have professional dental work are healthier. With the cause for their pain or infection gone, their breath will smell fresh again and their immune systems will strengthen. All animals undergoing dental procedures are generally admitted and released from the hospital the same day.

For more Dental Health information: Pet Dental Care FAQ