Bad breath is caused by bacteria. Over time, bacteria leads to plaque and tartar buildup on your cat’s teeth. The result is bad breath, reddened gums, and other common signs of dental disease. As dental disease progresses, other signs can include drooling, discomfort while chewing, and loose or missing teeth. Even if you’re using treats and chews to help control tartar, these are frequently not enough to keep dental disease in check. Dental hygiene is an important part of your cat’s health because dental disease can be associated with other serious health problems such as heart disease and kidney disease. Ask us about the best ways to control plaque and help protect your cat from dental disease.

Resorptive lesions is one of the most common dental problems that cats experience. When a cat’s tooth is undergoing tooth resorption, the crown of the tooth is affected, exposing the dentin and nerve. This results in chronic pain, tooth loss and infection. Unfortunately, the cause of this type of lesion is unknown, but can be diagnosed with x-rays and treated with extractions or crown amputations.

How do you know if your cat has a healthy mouth? We will examine your cat’s teeth and gums to help determine if there are any dental issues you should know about. After a brief visual examination, we may recommend a more detailed examination (which requires sedation), a dental cleaning, or options for at-home dental care.

Why is general anesthetic recommended for pets who need dental treatment?

Not all dental treatments require invasive surgery. However, as you might imagine, most cats do not like to have their mouths touched, much less have dental instruments cleaning and polishing their teeth.  Dental treatment without anesthesia would therefore be much too stressful and painful for cats.  Anesthesia allows our doctors and technicians to perform thorough cleaning, examination and x-rays of all of your cat’s teeth and gum tissue while ensuring the safety of your cat and our team.

Is general anesthetic safe?

Many owners understandably have concerns about the use of general anesthesia in pets. However, when the anesthesia is delivered by trained, experienced professionals, you can rest assured that your cat is in safe hands. Firstly, your cat will have a comprehensive assessment ahead of his procedure, so that your vet can be certain that the risks to his health are minimal. Our doctors then create an anesthetic plan individually suited to your cat. In addition to this, he will be closely monitored for the duration of the time he is under the effects of the general anesthetic by a dedicated technician who is trained to keep your cat safe and comfortable.

We can offer expert advice to help you keep your cat’s teeth and gums healthy! Dental health shouldn’t be taken for granted. Fortunately, many dental problems can be managed through at-home care and by bringing your cat to us for regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings. We want your cat to live a long, healthy life, and maintaining a healthy mouth is part of that. Call today to discuss your cat’s dental care needs and how we can help!