Our pet's mouths are very important, as they allow them to eat, play, and express themselves. At Old Town, we strive to ensure your pet's oral care is met.
During an exam, we will evaluate for the presence of tartar and gingivitis, any oral swellings, tumors, or the presence of excessive tissue. Small dogs and certain breeds are much more predisposed the formation of tartar and periodontal disease.
Some symptoms you may notice are bad breath, difficulty eating or dropping of food, or even bleeding from the gums. Periodontal disease can exacerbate several medical conditions, and in some cases, even cause them. These can include: heart murmurs and disease, diabetes, liver disease and kidney disease.
Once oral disease is present, an anesthetic dental is the next step in which we will clean the teeth with an ultrasonic scaler, then probe the teeth. While under anesthesia, full mouth radiographs are performed and evaluation to check for mobility, presence of infection, fractures, or pocketing below the gum line.
If any of these are present, extraction is the treatment of choice to remove the source of the pain, disease and infection. A local anesthetic is used to ensure that no or very little pain will be felt once the patient is awake, Suture is used to close large areas of extractions, and to facilitate comfort post operatively.
In addition, oral surgery can include removal of certain growths inside the mouth as well. These are often sent in for testing as tumors in the mouth can be very aggressive, so accurate diagnosis is essential for future treatment.
Cats, and occasionally dogs, also suffer from a disease causing resorptive lesions. This is a very painful condition that results in the melting of the teeth leaving painful sores on the affected teeth.
The only way to treat this condition, is removal of the affected teeth and monitoring for future disease. With careful and early detection, these teeth can be caught and removed to ensure a pain free mouth.
At Old Town, we provide full dental care including anesthetic dental cleanings as well as oral care such as extractions and surgery depending on the need.
We also can refer to a boarded Veterinary Dentist for procedures like crowning, bonding, or extensive oral surgery. Feel free to ask us how we can help you and your pet live a longer and healthier life with regular dental cleanings.
