When people talk about dentistry and oral health, they seldom think of those things in terms of their pets. We tend to assume that pets’ teeth get sorted out “somehow”. Yet, it’s vital that we take care of our pet’s oral health. The quality of oral health is closely linked to a person -or pet’s!- overall health.
So it’s important to make sure that your pet’s teeth are always in tip top shape. The trouble is, pet’s do not really like to have their teeth examined. People can be persuaded to visit the dentist and spend an hour or so receiving dental care. Pets, on the other hand, can’t be reasoned with. They don’t sense that a visit to the dentist is good for their oral health. All they sense is the discomfort.
Pets cannot understand the importance of oral health or a visit to their dentist. So, it’s important to have their teeth examined and X-rays taken when they are under anesthesia. Naturally, you might wonder if having your pet under anesthesia is good for them.
The majority of pets don’t get their teeth brushed regularly. This results in an accumulation of tartar and plaque on their teeth. Just imagine how difficult it would be to have your teeth cleaned after several years without brushing them! That’s very similar to the kind of state that dentist’s find pet’s teeth. The problem is that pets are not used to being made to sit still for long periods.
Especially when someone is cleaning their teeth of tartar and plaque. Now, only one third of a tooth is visible above the gumline. Much of the tartar and plaque is below the gumline. This accumulation of tartar and plaque is probably greater below the gumline. It’s practically impossible to clean a pet’s teeth of this accumulation of plaque and tartar when they are awake. The area below the gumline is just too sensitive for a pet to be able to sit still during a cleaning.
One of the most important things that your pet’s dentist will do is polish your pet’s teeth. Once the tartar has been cleaned off using a scaling instrument, the tooth surface needs to be polished to remove any ridges and slow the progression of tartar accumulation. This is not possible without proper anesthesia from your favourite dentist Saginaw MI.
In order for a dentist to evaluate the state of the gums, they will have to take dental X-rays. Many pets suffer from periodontal disease. It’s also common to find fractured roots, bone loss in your pet’s jaw as a result of an infection, as well as resorptive lesions below the gums. These conditions are often only detectable with X-rays. And in getting those dental X-rays, it’s impossible to proceed without using anesthesia.
Finally, it’s important to know that if your pet’s dentist does find anything troubling about your pet’s teeth, they can treat it there and then. That’s just not possible without anesthesia. No pet will sit still during a tooth extraction or other such dental treatment. Your pet needs to be under anesthesia to ensure that it can get the dental care it needs.
