Your pet's oral health is about more than fresh breath! Advanced dental disease can cause illness elsewhere in the body as bacteria enters the bloodstream through inflamed gums. This can cause infection in the kidneys, liver - even the heart!

Dental disease is also painful. As tartar builds up, the gums become red and irritated. Tartar buildup creeps below the gumline, eventually eating away at the structures that secure the teeth. A loose tooth is a painful tooth!

A dental prophylaxis (or dental cleaning) is the only way to thoroughly remove tartar buildup from all of your pet's teeth and allow for a "clean slate" to provide at-home oral care & maintenance (and hopefully prevent the need for future anesthetic procedures).

​What is the veterinarian looking for during an oral exam?

• Is there an odor?

​Halitosis, or "bad breath" can be an indication of disease or infection. Many owners are aware of the bad odor coming from their pets' mouths, but don't realize that in most cases, we can treat the underlying cause.

Halitosis is most often caused by periodontal disease, but can also be a sign of a bigger problem, such as kidney disease or diabetes.

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• Are the teeth and jaws properly aligned?

Malocclusion (misaligned teeth) is common in brachycephalic breeds ("short-nosed" dogs like Pugs and Bulldogs). While not always problematic, crowding or misalignment can cause excessive wear on affected teeth, discomfort, or difficulty chewing food.

Pictured right is a dog whose lower left canine tooth makes contact with an upper incisor.

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• Is there plaque or tartar buildup?

​Plaque is a soft, bacterial-based film that coats the teeth. It can be easily removed with daily oral maintenance, like toothbrushing.

When plaque is not removed, it hardens into tartar. This mineralization (also called calculus) process forms a cement-like buildup on the teeth and below the gumline. Unlike plaque, tartar can only be removed by professional dental cleaning.