How gum disease develops
Food and bacteria form plaque, which hardens into tartar within days. Bacteria spread under the gum, the gum inflames and recedes, the bone around the root is eaten away, and the tooth loosens. From outside you only see tartar and smell the breath; the worst damage is below the gum line.
Signs
- Bad breath
- Red, swollen or bleeding gums
- Yellow-brown tartar
- Slower eating, chewing on one side, preferring soft food, dropping food
- Drooling, pawing at the mouth
- Facial swelling (tooth-root abscess)
- In cats, tooth resorption that causes sudden pain and flinching
Why anaesthesia is necessary
An awake animal will not allow scaling under the gum or dental X-rays. "Anaesthesia-free" cleaning scrapes visible tartar only, leaves the disease under the gum untouched, and frightens the pet. Under anaesthesia we can:
- Probe every tooth for pocket depth
- Ultrasonically scale above and below the gum line
- Polish to slow new tartar
- Extract loose or badly diseased teeth
- Run pre-anaesthetic blood tests and monitor heart rate, oxygen and blood pressure throughout
How often
It depends on breed and mouth. Small breeds, flat-faced dogs and older cats usually need it every 1 to 2 years. We check the mouth at every visit; when tartar has reached the point of gum inflammation, it is time.
On the day
- No food for 8 to 12 hours beforehand
- Admitted in the morning, home in the afternoon
- Soft food for a few days if teeth were extracted, with pain relief and antibiotics on schedule
- Check-up one to two weeks later
Prevention at home
- Brushing: daily, or at least three times a week, with pet toothpaste. Start by wiping the gums and build up gradually.
- Dental diets, chews and water additives help but do not replace brushing and scaling.
- Yearly mouth check.
Cost
Depends on weight, the amount of tartar and the number of extractions. You get a written estimate after the pre-anaesthetic check, and if extra extractions are found under anaesthesia we phone you first.