Cat and Dog Teeth Cleaning in Charleston, SC

Bad breath, red gums, and tartar are just a few of the signs of early teeth and gum disease which can eventually affect more than just your pet’s mouth. In advanced stages, it can affect the liver, heart, and kidneys. It can also be very painful and can obviously affect your pet’s quality and quantity of life. Sadly, more than 50% of all dogs and cats have some form of dental disease by just three years of age!

The team at West Ashley Veterinary Clinic wants to prevent oral disease in pets, so we take a proactive approach to oral health with our dental services. With regular wellness exams, cat and dog teeth cleanings as needed, and home hygiene, we can lower or even eliminate your pet’s risk and keep your pet healthy and pain free.

Cat and Dog Teeth Cleaning at West Ashley

For your pet’s safety and to prevent stress or discomfort, we perform all dental prophylactic procedures (teeth cleanings) under general anesthesia. This approach also allows the best access for examination and treatment of the teeth, gums, throat, and tongue. To read more about why cat and dog teeth cleanings should be performed under general anesthesia, please visit www.avdc.org/. We recommend pre-anesthetic blood work prior to each dental procedure to determine if there are any underlying health issues that increase risk or need treatment. All dental patients receive pain medication and intravenous (IV) fluid therapy and are carefully monitored during the procedure. We rely on digital dental x-rays to view the large portions of the teeth below the gum line where many dental problems hide. This ensures that we can find baby teeth that have not emerged, determine whether a tooth is still vital, prove that a broken tooth or root has been fully removed, or determine whether a mass is benign or malignant.

Steps for Better Breath and Health

• Examination of the oral cavity, throat, teeth, gums, and tongue
• High-definition dental digital radiography
• Mobility (loose tooth) assessment and gingival probe for pockets, infection, or recession
• Removal of diseased or deciduous teeth using a specialized high-speed hand drill if needed
• Ultrasonic cleaning to remove tartar and plaque
• Enamel polishing

If you have any questions about our cat and dog teeth cleaning in West Ashley, we would be happy to perform an evaluation and answer questions. Please see our dental services literature for additional assessment and treatment information. If you schedule your cat or dog’s teeth cleaning within 30 days of our recommendation or during February, our National Dental Health Month, you will receive a discount on the comprehensive oral health evaluation and treatment.