Animals naturally hide pain from us, even though they experience twice as much dental pain as humans.
Periodontal disease is a serious concern for the general well-being of our pets.
Many animals with severe and even life-threatening dental disease show minimal-to-no symptoms of discomfort or disease at all.
Pets need their teeth brushed daily, just like we do.
Plaque, Tartar, and Dental Diseases
Plaque begins to build up on your pet's teeth within 24 hours after a dental cleaning or tooth brushing. Plaque is the film that collects on teeth when they are not brushed often enough. Plaque will turn into tartar.
Failure to remove plaque will generate a biofilm. This biofilm, which consists of millions of bacteria, is what causes:
- Gingivitis
- Infections
- Periodontal disease
- Abscesses (which are extremely painful to your pet)
If plaque transitions into tartar, and the tartar is allowed to accumulate, it becomes incredibly challenging to remove—even with brushing and antibiotics.
The millions of bacteria that make up tartar can easily enter your pet's bloodstream through inflamed gum tissue (gingivitis) and cause infections in the heart and kidneys.
As you can see, dental care for your pet is very vital.
Why Your Pet Needs Professional Dental Help
There are many important reasons to bring your pet to Warwick Animal Hospital in Newport News, VA, and some of them are paramount to your pet's health. Our veterinarian and staff are trained to help your pet obtain the necessary dental care. We recommend a pet dental visit with us for any of the following reasons:
- Plaque and tartar buildup
- Moderate to severe gingivitis
- Bleeding gums
- Gingival recession
- Infections/abscesses
- Root or pulp exposure
- Tooth erosion
- Fractured (broken) teeth
- Pain
- Annual cleaning
At Warwick Animal Hospital, we utilize superior and advanced pet dental technology. Our cutting-edge dental equipment allows for the most thorough deep cleaning possible.
All dental cleanings are performed under anesthesia and include ultrasonic scaling followed by each pet's teeth' probing. Probing allows us to check for disease and areas of pain. After your pet's teeth are cleaned and examined, we finish off with polishing and a mouth rinse.
We use injectable anesthesia for local pain control before any extractions and believe in appropriate and thorough pain management.
We use dental x-rays to evaluate tooth root damage, abscesses, or fractures.
Our goal is to keep your pet's mouth healthy and pain-free and give you the knowledge to care for your pet at home after your pet's visit.
Call Warwick Animal Hospital in Newport News, VA, today to schedule your pet for a dental exam or dental emergency. Our number is 757-595-3337.