Dental Care - Vet in Parker | Parker Center Animal Clinic

A Keystone of Health

Dental care for dogs and cats.

Pet dental health is an important part of your pet’s overall health. The bacteria that builds up during dental disease can enter the blood stream and lead to heart disease, kidney disease, and other problems. By removing painful teeth, dentistry can often improve your pet’s quality of life.

Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment & Treatments

Pet dentistry at PCAC falls into two categories: Dental cleanings under anesthesia for routine prophylactic care, and Oral Surgery Procedures for minor to advanced periodontal disease. Both types of dental procedures include a complete oral exam with charting, ultrasonic scaling both above and below the gumline (where most of the disease is), polishing of the teeth, and fluoride treatment. Anesthetic dental procedures are necessary for all pets. Periodontal disease, broken teeth, and other issues can only be thoroughly examined and treated when your pet is relaxed and sedated. We do NOT recommend anesthesia-free dentistry.

The prevalent issue found in Parker animal dental care, and anywhere else, is periodontal disease. Most dogs and cats show signs of this condition by age three, and it will only get worse with age if not treated proactively. Periodontal disease begins when plaque accumulates, and then hardens into a tough layer of tartar. Below the gum line, tartar can lead to infection that causes damage to the teeth and jaw. And if left unchecked, the condition can cause other health problems, including heart, kidney and liver issues.

The good news is, preventative care and early detection can make all the difference. A dental veterinarian in Parker or elsewhere can give you an evaluation. They will thoroughly examine and clean your pet’s teeth, perhaps including x-ray imaging, and suggest treatment options.

Periodontal Disease

While periodontal disease is the most common, other causes can be just as problematic.

Broken teeth/jaw. A broken tooth or jawbone is a miserable condition for a pet to endure. A dental vet will know how to address it.
Cysts/tumors. These can grow slowly in soft tissue for a long time without being detected.
Infected teeth. Your vet will be able to determine the appropriate remedy.

Checking for abnormalities like these is part of a thorough examination by a veterinary dentist at our clinic. We’re your concerned friend in Parker pet dental care.

Dental Conditions

Interventional Dentistry

Interventional Dentistry is a term used to describe making adjustments in the mouth to prevent problems before they happen. This includes pulling puppy teeth when they don’t fall out by the time they should, placing bite planes to prevent teeth from jabbing into the gums, and pulling adult teeth if they are causing crowding issues.

Please note that the procedures listed below need to be performed under anesthesia. Your veterinarian will give you an estimated cost of services if your pet requires one or more of these procedures.

Persistent primary (puppy) teeth

Persistent primary (puppy) teeth should be extracted when the permanent (adult) teeth have started to erupt but the primary tooth is still present in that location. Timely extractions are important to allow for the permanent teeth to erupt into a normal position. If left untreated these retained primary teeth may direct permanent teeth into an abnormal position, leading to malocclusions, irregular jaw development, and the possibility of early periodontal disease due to crowding. +

Bite plane placement

A bite plane is often recommended if your puppy has a “base narrow” bite, which occur when the lower canine teeth protrude inward, often producing damage to the upper palate. This damage can be corrected through an orthodontic device called a bite plane, which is placed on the upper palate and “guides” the adult lower canines outward into normal position as they erupt. This is usually in place for two weeks after placement, but on occasion requires longer than two weeks. Please note that a strict “no chewing” rule is in place while the bite plane is in place to avoid the bite plane from popping out. +

Adult lateral incisor teeth

On occasion teeth may be so crowded that extractions of adult teeth may be necessary to allow for normal tooth eruption/normal bite placement. Because adult teeth are being extracted, nerve blocks are performed prior to extraction, and before and after radiographs are taken to ensure complete extraction without trauma to surrounding tooth root structures.

Your veterinarian will consistently examine your pet’s mouth at the 8, 12, and 16 week visit to ensure the teeth and bite are developing correctly. If not, they may recommend an interventional procedure to prevent long term damage. +

Dangers of Anesthesia-Free Cleanings

Although it may seem more cost effective, anesthesia-free dentistry is only a cosmetic change for a deeper issue. Anesthesia-free cleanings are…

Ineffective – This cosmetic-only service does not remove the plaque and tartar from below the gum line – where dental disease occurs! Fractured, infected teeth and other issues are also ignored.

Dangerous – Sudden movements by an awake patient may result in injury to your pet as dental instruments are very sharp. Also, without airway protection, your pet may breath bacterial-laden plaque and calculus into the lungs.

Stressful – Your pet cannot understand the procedure being performed and why he/she must be restrained for so long.

Painful – Without anesthesia or sedation, your pet feels everything. Ouch!

Not a professional health service – Most people offering anesthesia free cleanings do not know how to safely use sedative and anesthetic drugs or how to monitor your pet under anesthesia. If you come across a company that says they will “anesthetize” or “sedate” your pet and they are not a licensed veterinarian, they may be putting your pet in danger.

Please talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s dental health. Our doctors are highly trained to understand the oral health of dogs and cats and can help you do what is best for your pet.

Oral Surgery

For your pet, dental disease can be painful and can cause illness throughout the entire body. Dental disease is a build-up of bacteria in the mouth that causes infection. Oral Surgery procedures are classified as Level 1 through Level 4, Minor Periodontal Disease though Extensive Periodontal Disease. These levels are estimates given by doctors, and may change once the dental procedure has started.

Included in All of Our Oral Surgery

Pre-operative blood coagulation profile
Pre-operative exam
IV catheter and fluids
Pre-anesthetic sedation and pain medication
General anesthesia with comprehensive monitoring including ECG, O2 saturation, blood pressure, etc.

Hand and ultrasonic scaling and polishing
Periodontal probing and charting
Full mouth radiographs (x-rays)
Local nerve blocks for extractions
Antibiotic injections

Class IV laser therapy
Pain medications to go home
Antibiotics to go home
Nail trim home care kit
Detailed home care report

Included in All of Our Oral Surgery

Pre-operative blood coagulation profile
Pre-operative exam
IV catheter and fluids
Pre-anesthetic sedation and pain medication
General anesthesia with comprehensive monitoring including ECG, O2 saturation, blood pressure, etc.
Hand and ultrasonic scaling and polishing
Periodontal probing and charting
Full mouth radiographs (x-rays)
Local nerve blocks for extractions
Antibiotic injections
Class IV laser therapy
Pain medications to go home
Antibiotics to go home
Nail trim home care kit
Detailed home care report

Treatments

The number and complication of the teeth that need treatment will determine the level of the procedure needed for your pet. Treatments can include extraction, Doxirobe gel (antibiotic gel to treat pockets around loose teeth), and/or bonded sealant (seal placed over pulp cavity of a broken or chipped tooth to prevent infection from entering).