Cat and Dog Teeth Cleaning
in Caldwell, NJ

When your pet arrives at our animal hospital for their dog/cat teeth cleaning, we will do a physical exam and run bloodwork to ensure there are no underlying health concerns. Each patient has an intravenous (IV) catheter placed by a technician, allowing us to deliver fluids throughout the procedure to support blood pressure and hydration.

In some cases, injectable antibiotics and pre-emptive pain medication may be administered before placing your pet under a light plane of general anesthesia. The veterinarian will perform a full-mouth examination of the teeth, lips, gums, and tongue, searching for bone loss, loose or broken teeth, and signs of oral cancer or infection. Any abnormalities discovered will be noted in your pet’s medical records and the veterinarian will devise a customized treatment plan. A technician will then clean and polish each tooth, remove buildup and debris from under the gumline, and finish the procedure with a fluoride treatment.

Dental radiology (X-ray) is an essential tool for finding underlying dental disease and other issues. Roughly just 50% of each tooth is above the gumline; therefore, X-rays make it possible for us to visualize the part of the tooth (and the entire jawbone) that is otherwise fully hidden. Full mouth X-rays are recommended during any dental procedure to help us detect hidden issues such as root abscesses, root fractures, severe bone loss, and cystic lesions.

STEP 1: SUPRAGINGIVAL CLEANING

The tartar and plaque that is visible above the gum line is removed so that all surfaces of each tooth may be visualized.

STEP 2: SUBGINGIVAL CLEANING

This is cleaning the area under the gum line. In our animal patients, this is the most important step. The subgingival plaque and calculus is what causes periodontal disease. This is the most common ailment diagnosed in ALL animal patients. Cleaning the tooth surface above the gum line will make the teeth look nice, but in reality does little medically for the patient.

STEP 3: ASSESSMENT

The veterinarian evaluates the entire oral cavity and records any abnormalities on a special dental record. Some examples of oral abnormalities are: tongue or lip lesions, deep pockets in the gums around the teeth and loose, broken or discolored teeth.

STEP 4: DENTAL IMAGING

Dental Imaging is recommended for every tooth in the mouth to discover problems, such as retained roots, enamel defects, root abscesses and bone loss due to infection.

STEP 5: POLISHING

The mechanical removal of the plaque and calculus causes microscopic roughening of the tooth surface. This roughening increases the retentive ability of the tooth for plaque and calculus. Polishing will smooth the surface and decrease the adhesive ability of plaque.

STEP 6: SUB-GINGIVAL LAVAGE

The scaling and polishing of the teeth will cause a lot of debris to become trapped under the gums. This will cause local inflammation, as well as increase the chance of future periodontal disease. For this reason, we gently remove the gingiva with an antibacterial solution.

STEP 7: TREATMENTS

If any abnormalities were found during the assessment and Dental Advanced Imaging, various treatments may be recommended. Some examples of treatments are: tooth extraction, bonded sealants of fractures and local antibiotic treatment of pockets around the teeth. The veterinarian will explain any abnormalities and discuss treatment options. We are happy to provide an estimate at each stage of this procedure.

STEP 8: PREVENTION

Prevention is one of the most important parts of the oral hygiene procedure.

Animals have a strong natural instinct to hide pain, making it difficult to recognize signs of discomfort or soreness. Some indications that your pet may be in pain include increased licking, altered or heavy breathing, changes in posture, changes in appetite, and changes in sleep habits. If you recognize any of these signs, walk in or schedule an appointment to see a veterinarian at our hospital in Caldwell, NJ.