ORAL HEALTHCARE IS IMPORTANT AT ALL AGES
Veterinary Dentistry
Oral health is a very important aspect of keeping your pet's overall health in good shape. Our digital dental x-rays capture highly detailed images that provide diagnostic information about processes occurring below the gum line, x-rays greatly enhance the quality of dental care your pet can receive. At Kelowna Veterinary Hospital our team cares about your pet's oral health and comfort. All dentistry is done under anesthesia so that your pet is relaxed, pain-free, and unaware of what is happening.
If you are concerned about your pet's oral health contact our team to request an appointment. Our veterinarian will inspect your pet's mouth for any visibly damaged teeth. During your pet’s exam, we will go over recommendations on whether they need a dental cleaning and if digital dental x-rays are needed. Dental x-rays provide the most thorough and accurate imaging of your pet’s mouth, allowing us to better assess the health and integrity of each tooth.
During the procedure, professional dental tools are used to scale plaque and bacteria from the exposed teeth as well as below the gum line. Removing plaque from under the gums is the most important part, as this is where periodontal disease is most active. Your pet's teeth will be professionally polished after the dental work is complete, which helps to prevent bacteria from adhering to the teeth. This increases the longevity of your pet's oral health.
Ask our team about home care for dental care and maintenance, along with home care dental products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental treats and toys.
Anesthetic-Free Dentistry
A dental performed on an awake animal will not be beneficial or effective for the pet, even if their teeth look whiter after. The animal can not be fully examined while awake, which is important for finding teeth damage, periodontal disease, and even oral tumors.
Attempting to examine and scale your pet's teeth while they are awake requires them to be restrained, will cause stress and anxiety, pain, and can miss dental disease happening below the gum line where it is not visible.
These superficial cleanings can lead to a false sense of security when it comes to your pet's oral health, which can allow teeth damage and disease to go untreated for longer until it is too late to treat.
While anesthetic-free dental companies claim to save you money, in the long run, your pet will require a much more extensive (and therefore expensive) veterinary dental, as well as potentially experiencing more discomfort, stress, and pain.
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) does not support anesthetic-free dentistry.