Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital
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Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital
  • Our Services
    • Emergency/Critical Care
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Ophthalmology
  • For Your Pet
    • Client Registration Form
    • When Your Pet is a Patient
    • Client Portal
    • Pet Insurance
    • Payment Options
    • Clincial Studies
    • End of Life Arrangements
  • For Veterinary Teams
    • Submit Referrals
    • Our Referral Process
    • At a Glance
    • Clincial Studies
    • Ethos Materials for Clinics
    • Continuing Education
    • VetBloom CE
  • About Us
    • Our Hospital
    • Our Team
    • Donate to AVMF
    • Why Ethos
    • Ethos Discovery
    • Contact Us
  • Blogs & Videos
    • Our Blogs
    • PAWEDcasts
  • Careers + Development
    • Capital District is Hiring
    • Living and Working Near Here
    • Positions Across Ethos
    • Benefits and Perks
    • Veterinary Training Programs
  • 24-HR ER: 518-785-1094

Our Blogs

Benefits of Teeth Cleaning for Cats & Dogs

January 9, 2020
Orange cat with vet during dental appointment

Did you know that just like humans, our pets should have a dental procedure performed periodically? Dogs and cats should have their teeth cleaned every 6-12 months starting at 2-3 years of age.

80% of Pets Will Be Affected By Periodontal Disease By Age 3

Obviously, genetics and breed variation play a role in how often teeth cleaning will be recommended, but this is a general guideline. Smaller breeds will need their teeth cleaned more frequently. Overcrowding of teeth in their mouths makes them more prone to periodontal disease.

Health Issues Caused By Dental Disease

Pets with untreated periodontal disease can have a higher risk of having heart, liver, or kidney issues. If left untreated, it can cause chronic pain, inflammation, and infection of the bone surrounding the teeth. Permanent bone loss and even jaw fractures are possible in some cases. Our fur babies have a much better quality of life when they have a healthy mouth!

The Importance of Dental Radiographs

Dental radiographs are an important part of a complete dental procedure. Around 60% of a pet’s tooth is below the gum line. Dental radiographs help address many things that cannot be seen from the surface, such as:

  • Tooth fractures
  • Retained roots
  • Impacted teeth
  • Areas of bone loss
  • Resorptive lesions
  • Tumors
  • Tooth root abscesses
Why Anesthesia-Free Dentals Are Not Recommended

Oftentimes, owners are concerned about having their pet go under anesthesia and request anesthesia-free dental cleanings instead. However, the cons of anesthesia-free cleanings far outweigh the pros with the following:

  • The pet is often extremely stressed being restrained when awake.
  • Pain cannot be controlled appropriately when they are awake.
  • Most periodontal disease lies beneath the surface, so anesthesia-free cleanings do not address this. Only supragingival calculus can be removed, and the subgingival disease cannot be appropriately addressed through radiographs and cleaning unless they are under anesthesia.
  • Anesthesia-free cleanings leave the tooth surface roughened since they do not include a full polishing to smooth this surface, so plaque will actually build up faster in the future.
  • These procedures are purely cosmetic and do not actually address the root of the issue. Often, painful conditions will go undiagnosed and untreated.

Our Anesthesiologists

Luckily for our clients, we have board certified anesthesiologists who will work as a team with the primary care doctor and primary care technicians to formulate the most appropriate anesthesia plan for their pet. We have a high-quality monitoring protocol and a caring team who are fully dedicated to making the anesthetic process as smooth as possible.

Several Ethos hospitals offer veterinary dentistry. Learn more about this specialty by clicking the links below!

Bulger Veterinary Hospital Dentistry

VSH – Sorrento Valley Dentistry

VSH – North County Dentistry


Written by Laura Williams, DVM

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Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital
518-785-1094 | 222 Troy Schenectady Rd, Latham, NY 12110
  • 24-HR ER: 518-785-1094
  • Our Services
    • Emergency/Critical Care
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Ophthalmology
  • For Your Pet
    • Client Registration Form
    • When Your Pet is a Patient
    • Client Portal
    • Pet Insurance
    • Payment Options
    • Clincial Studies
    • End of Life Arrangements
  • For Veterinary Teams
    • Submit Referrals
    • Our Referral Process
    • At a Glance
    • Clincial Studies
    • Ethos Materials for Clinics
    • Continuing Education
    • VetBloom CE
  • About Us
    • Our Hospital
    • Our Team
    • Donate to AVMF
    • Why Ethos
    • Ethos Discovery
    • Contact Us
  • Blogs & Videos
    • Our Blogs
    • PAWEDcasts
  • Careers + Development
    • Capital District is Hiring
    • Living and Working Near Here
    • Positions Across Ethos
    • Benefits and Perks
    • Veterinary Training Programs
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