The Columbus Academy of Veterinary Medicine is an established local association of Central Ohio Veterinarians. Its members reflect all aspects of veterinary medicine from small and large animal veterinary practices to academics and research. All the members share the common goal of creating an organization to promote veterinary medicine and safeguard its interests on a local level. The Academy is a vital source of continuing education hours offered at no charge to its membership. It is an important link between the veterinary community and the public it serves.
Dentistry is one of the oldest specialties in human medicine. Everyone knows that brushing their teeth daily (or even more often!) and having regular visits to their dentist for teeth cleaning and x-rays is important to keep their mouth as healthy as possible. However, the health of our pet's mouth is often overlooked. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, by the age of two years, 80-85% of dogs have some degree of dental disease. The following list states a few of the dental problems seen in our pets.
Prevention is the best treatment. Brushing your pet's teeth regularly is the best preventative. Daily brushing with a toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs and cats is optimal. However, don't let the recommendation for daily brushing dissuade you from starting to brush your pet's teeth. Whatever time you can devote to a consistent brushing schedule will benefit your pet's health enormously. There are also diets specifically designed to help promote good oral hygiene for pets. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations for an appropriate diet for your pet. In addition, routine dental scaling and polishing (prophylaxis) are recommended to remove accumulated plaque and treat gum disease (gingivitis) before it progresses to periodontal disease, infection, and tooth loss.
Your veterinarian uses the same types of dental instruments as does your own dentist: ultrasonic and sonic scalers to remove calculus from the teeth, curettes to gently scrape away any deposits under the gum line and any unhealthy tissue, an antiseptic flush for the gum space, and a polisher to smooth the enamel to slow tartar build up. A complete oral exam and possibly dental x-rays are performed to evaluate the teeth, gums, and underlying bone to determine if other dental procedures such as extractions, cavity fillings, crown caps, root canal therapy, or periodontal surgery may be needed.
Because dogs and cats do not understand the need to sit still while their teeth are being cleaned and because their mouths are sensitive (especially if there is dental disease), general anesthesia is necessary. Modern anesthesia utilizes short-acting induction agents and the same types of anesthetic equipment and gas (inhalation) agents used in human hospitals. Pre-anesthetic examination and blood/urine testing of older or higher risk patients and the use of the newer anesthetic agents has substantially reduced the risk of anesthesia. If you have concerns about your pet regarding anesthesia, please contact your veterinarian.