February is National Pet Dental Health Month, and if
your pet has never had a dental, this is the perfect month to start. We are offering 10% off every dental scheduled
in February.
In addition to routine teeth brushing, it is recommended
that dogs and cats have annual comprehensive teeth cleanings and oral exams
twice a year. Why is this so important?
Periodontal disease is a common issue in cats
and dogs and causes them to experience discomfort and pain. Not only does it
affect their mouths, but can cause problems in their kidneys, hearts and livers
if untreated. Periodontal disease begins with plaque build-up that develops
into tartar, which can get underneath the gumline and damage the jawbone and tissues
that connect teeth to the jawbone.
When we examine your pet’s teeth, we grade them on a periodontal
disease scale of 1-4.
1 is normal—minimal
tartar
4 is severe—infection, teeth extractions typically necessary
Here at Parrish Creek Veterinary Clinic, we know how
important it is to perform a thorough and successful dental on your pet. What
sets us apart from places like spay and neuter clinics?
First, let’s discuss dentals at spay and neuter clinics. Although they are usually offered at a lower rate, dentals at spay and neuter clinics are quick procedures with minimal attention to detail. These types of clinics often see 50 or more patients in the course of one day. Blood work is not required, x-rays are rarely given and if a patient has grade 4 periodontal disease, they are referred to another clinic with the proper resources anyway.
Dentals at PCVC:
We start by giving your pet a comprehensive oral exam,
which tells us the severity of his or her teeth. After we know what type of
services are needed for your loved one, we provide you with an accurate
estimate for a dental cleaning. We always include pre-surgical blood work. Why?
When we run a blood test, we can determine if your animal is healthy enough for safe anesthesia. In our experience, we have tested animals scheduled for dentals
and discovered they have kidney disease or other issues that make them an
unfit candidate for an anesthetic dental.
Radiographs
We do dental x-rays on every mouth that comes in for
an extensive cleaning. Our technicians, who perform cleaning and polishing on
your pet’s teeth, are highly skilled in administering dental x-rays. We have
found things such as residual roots in the gums that would have gone unnoticed
if we had not taken radiographs. They also help us know if teeth need to be
extracted. If teeth need to be extracted, our technicians will pass the task on
to our veterinarians.
Anesthesia
Dr. Folland and veterinarians everywhere agree that
anesthesia is the best method for performing dentals. It can be painful for
your pet to experience a dental, especially if extractions are necessary.
Anesthesia prevents any discomfort or pain your pet may experience during the
cleaning. Also, pets tend to move around, escape from the table or bite those
performing dentals. Anesthesia is helpful for everyone involved with the
procedure.
Be assured that your pet will be monitored from the
moment the pre-anesthetic is administered, to when he or she wakes up from the
dental. We take precaution with every animal that goes under anesthesia. This
sets us apart from spay and neuter clinic dentals. Because they have a high
volume of dentals, they are unable to monitor each animal throughout the entire
process. We ensure that you and your pet have the best experience possible.
Please feel free to speak with any of our staff if you have questions and
concerns.
If you schedule a dental within 30 days of your pet’s exam,
you’ll always get 10% off your dental bill.
Don’t forget to schedule your dental today!
