Dental Care
Dental disease is one of the more common diseases we see in our feline(cat) patients. It is estimated that 70% of all cats over the age of 3 years have significant dental and periodontal disease.
Dental disease is caused by oral bacteria which forms plaque and calculus (tartar). Left untreated, this leads to gingivitis, periodontal disease, pain and tooth loss. Over time, this bacteria can also enter your cat’s blood stream and potentially lead to other diseases such as kidney infections, heart valve infections and arthritis.
At the All Cats Clinic, we examine your cat’s oral cavity as part of their routine physical exam. If one of our veterinarians or veterinary dental technicians discovers plaque and tartar, they will recommend a professional dental cleaning. The only way to properly carry out a professional dental cleaning is under anesthesia. Fortunately, the drugs and knowledge today make the anesthetic risk lower than the risk of ignoring the dental disease. After the teeth are thoroughly cleaned we take full mouth dental x-rays. 50% of the teeth are under the gum line and without dental x-rays, the teeth cannot be properly evaluated.
In addition to professional dental cleanings, home care is a must to keep your cat’s mouth healthy! The Cornell Feline Health Center has an online video detailing how to brush your cats teeth…..www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu
Call us today to find out more information and to schedule your cat’s exam.
