DENTISTRY
In addition to diagnosing and treating dental disease, we can biopsy and removal oral tumors
Dental disease is an under-recognized source of discomfort and illness in both dogs and cats. Advancements in anesthetic monitoring technology have made anesthesia for dogs and cats safer than ever before, and the development and refinement of digital dental x-rays allow us to detect and treat diseases that are not visible to the naked eye. The veterinarians at Alpine Veterinary Medical Centre are passionate about dental care for dogs and cats, and all have undergone additional training in dental treatment beyond what is offered in veterinary school. Several of our veterinarians attend the Veterinary Dental Forum, a multi-day conference dedicated exclusively to the diagnosis and treatment of dental disease in pets.
Why Should I Pursue Dental Care for My Pet?
Dogs and cats have the same nerves that supply their teeth and mouth tissues as humans do. This means that when they have broken teeth, infections, abscesses, or severe inflammation, they experience pain in the same way we do. It’s difficult for pets to communicate when their mouths hurt, and the vast majority will continue eating despite significant pain. Dental care provides an opportunity to identify sources of pain and disease in our pets' mouths.
Why Does It Cost More Than When I Go to the Dentist?
In order to safely and accurately diagnose and treat dental disease in our patients, they must be placed under general anesthesia. This is likely the most significant reason animal dentistry costs more than human dentistry. Additionally, because most of our pets don't have annual or bi-annual dental exams, by the time we have a chance to evaluate them thoroughly, we often find disease affecting multiple teeth. In contrast, when people visit the dentist, it is usually to address problems affecting only one or two teeth. In geriatric pets, it is not uncommon to discover that more than 50% of the teeth are so diseased that extraction is required.
Alpine Veterinary Medical Centre prides itself on providing the highest possible level of care for our dental patients. This means that every dental procedure, including tooth extractions and surgery, is performed by a veterinarian, while a trained animal health technician monitors anesthesia and records vital parameters every five minutes. Animals undergoing tooth extractions or oral surgery receive dental nerve blocks with a local anesthetic to reduce pain during and after the procedure. Our dedicated dental surgical area is equipped with a wide array of anesthetic monitoring equipment to ensure that your pet remains safe under anesthesia, and warm air blankets are used to maintain your pet’s temperature without the risk of burns.
Why Does My Pet Have To Be Under Anesthesia?
One of the most important reasons for anesthetizing animals is to protect their airways. Since dental disease in dogs and cats almost always involves bacteria, it is essential to place an endotracheal (breathing) tube in the pet’s airway and inflate the protective cuff to ensure that bacteria from the mouth cannot enter the lungs during the procedure. General anesthesia also allows us to take full-mouth dental x-rays and probe each tooth individually to assess for bone loss and soft tissue changes around the tooth roots.
Why Should My Pet Have Dental X-Rays?
Dental x-rays are an invaluable tool for evaluating dental disease in our pets. Without dental x-rays, we are unable to assess the roots of the teeth, which often make up more than half of the tooth's structure! Dental x-rays also allow us to identify serious issues, such as abscesses or cysts, that can weaken the jawbones and make them prone to breakage. We take x-rays of every tooth in our dental patients to ensure that we are not leaving behind pain or disease.
