Pet Dental Care At Pleasant Valley Veterinary Clinic in McMurray, PA!

Beyond dealing with the notorious pet breath, when it comes to your pet’s oral health, proper pet dental care is a crucial step in the long-term health care of your pet. A healthy mouth is the first step in preventing common diseases, such as periodontal disease. Bacteria buildup from poor dental hygiene may also lead to serious complications through your pet’s body, such as liver disease, kidney disease, and heart disease. Routine dental visits at your veterinarian in McMurray enables pet parents to address dental concerns before they advance into more serious problems.

What Types of Things Will a Veterinarian Screen For?

Your veterinarian will screen for a variety of dental issues, but the primary concern is signs of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a painful and debilitating problem for your pet. Unfortunately, many pet parents aren’t aware of the problem until their pet begins to show obvious signs of discomfort. Periodontal disease is also associated with several systemic conditions, including heart disease, so routine screening is extremely important for the overall health of your pet.

Common Pet Dental Problems

Some of the most common dental conditions your veterinarian will screen for include:

• Abscessed teeth-An abscessed tooth is an advanced type of infected tooth. Without treatment, the bacteria may travel through your pet’s root canal system and into their body.
• Broken teeth-Fractured teeth are common in both dogs and cats, but it is important for the veterinarian to monitor the teeth that are broken to ensure it doesn’t lead to infection.
• Discolored teeth-Any tooth that is not the normal color, typically means the tooth is dead and infected.
• Missing teeth-In some situations, the tooth isn’t actually missing, it is present under the gum line, which can prevent a problem.
• Orthodontic (bite) problems-When the jaws do not align properly, it may cause trauma to the gums, lips, teeth or palate.
• Tooth resorption-This is a common problem in cats, especially cats over the age of 6. It is second to periodontal disease in the overall cause of oral disease.

How can a Veterinarian Help With Pet Dental Problems?

Your veterinarian in McMurray will examine your pet’s mouth while they are sedated, which allows the vet to get a closer look at your pet’s oral health. Dental x-rays will be done in order to look for signs of bone loss, abscesses, tooth damage, and other issues below the gum line. The vet will also scale the teeth above and below the gum line to remove all traces of tartar, extract decayed or broken teeth and do post extraction x-rays if needed.

Contact Pleasant Valley Veterinary Clinic in McMurray, PA!

To schedule your pet’s dental examination, contact Pleasant Valley Veterinary Clinic in McMurray.