Pet Dental Care

Keeping your pet’s mouth clean is one of the very best things that you can do to protect not only his mouth from painful periodontal disease and tooth loss, but also the rest of his organs from premature wear and tear and deterioration. The bacteria that live in dogs’ mouths loves to spread, through infected bleeding gums, to heart valves, kidneys and liver. As pets age, their organs age, too, and they don’t need the extra burden of oral bacteria to contend with. All pets, especially older pets should have their dental health cared for at home and through regular dental cleanings and treatments as needed.

Dental Treatments at Cimarron

General anesthesia is required to thoroughly clean any pet’s teeth. Anyone who tells you differently is merely chipping the tip of proverbial iceberg and not doing a thorough service for the pet.

Many people are concerned about anesthetizing their pets because of past bad experiences, the small size of the pet, or the age of the pet. We believe that, for most pets, the dangers of oral infection, and the months and years of life lost due to unchecked periodontal disease are far greater than the dangers of anesthesia at our hospital. Learn How We Protect Our Anesthesia Patients

• Ultrasonic Scaling and Polishing / Gingival antiseptic flushing

  These are the procedures done in every Dental Treatment, just as your own dentist does for you. Ultrasonic scaling removes microscopic tartar and debris on the teeth and under the gums, where periodontal disease starts. Following the scaling, teeth are polished to smooth out the ridges that will capture debris and cause premature tartar buildup. Antiseptic flushing of the gums cleanses the mouth and decreases bacterial reinfection.

• Oravet Application – Plaque Barrier Sealant

  Oravet is an invisible sealant that protects teeth against early plaque build-up. It wears off in about a week, but is simple to reapply weekly at home to keep the teeth protected over time. This is a great treatment for pets who build up tartar especially heavily or quickly.

• Periodontal Treatment and Antibiotic Therapy

  Diseased teeth can sometimes be saved by special cleaning procedures called root planing and curettage. Application of long-acting antibiotics in periodontal pockets will also help some diseased teeth “heal”, reducing the number of teeth that have to be extracted. (Not all hospitals offer this treatment.)

• Extractions – Simple and Surgical

  When teeth are diseased beyond saving, extraction provides the pet relief from pain and chronic infection. We can perform “simple” extractions on single rooted teeth and “surgical” extractions on double and triple rooted teeth. But be assured, We Never Extract Teeth Unless We Think That They Cannot Be Saved with periodontal treatment. Pre-emptive pain management is always a part of our dental extraction protocol.

• Periodontal Vaccine

  Periodontal Vaccine can be administered every 6- 12 months to those pets prone to periodontal disease. Yorkies, Poodles, Chihuahuas, and other small breeds benefit greatly from this option!

• Home Dental Care

  Keeping your pet’s mouth healthier at home means fewer hospital stays for professional dental treatments. And, when your pet does need Dental Treatments (as we all do, even when we brush and floss daily), the treatments will be less invasive and less expensive.

Ideas to try at home:

• Brushing / antiseptic rinses on teeth daily (Bring your pet in for an easy “How-To”!)
• Feeding tartar control foods
• Tartar Control chew treats (chewing exercise is one of the keys to dental hygiene for pets)
• Tartar control water additives

We carry pet-friendly toothpaste and toothbrushes, tartar control diets, chew treats, water additives and oral hygiene rinses.
Contact us today for suggestions that work for you and your pet!