With most of us considering our pets to be an integral part of the family, it may comfort you to know that our veterinary dental health procedures share many similarities with the dental care you receive.

Read on to learn more about some of the key similarities between human and pet dentistry.

• Dental charting

Just like in humans, before we perform dental treatments on your pet, we will first “chart” their oral health. This involves assessing each tooth visually, with special measuring instruments, and with dental x-rays, and making notations about any unhealthy lesions that may be present (such as unhealthy deepening of the gum pocket around a tooth suggestive of periodontal disease). In this way, we can better monitor your pet’s dental health over time and therefore make informed recommendations about the most suitable care for them.

• Scaling and polishing

Just like in people, pets undergoing a dental procedure will have their teeth cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler. This is the fine-pointed instrument that gently vibrates against teeth to clean off hard tartar accumulations, whilst emitting a stream of water to prevent overheating of the tooth. After scaling, your pet’s teeth are polished to leave the tooth surface extra clean and smooth.

• Nerve blocks for extractions

Should your pet require a tooth to be extracted, rest assured that they will receive the same numbing nerve blocks as you would! Prior to the extraction, we use a fine needle to deposit local anaesthetic medicine around specific nerve sites in your pet’s mouth, so they won’t feel a thing! This also helps your pet to remain more comfortable when they wake up from their procedure.

• Pain relief

Just like us after an extraction, we will send your pet home with several days of pain relief medication to help ensure a comfortable recovery.

To book your pet in for some top-notch dental care, consult our tooth-tastic team!