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What does tartar do to the teeth?
If tartar is allowed to remain on the teeth, several things may happen.
1) The tartar will mechanically push the gums away from the roots of the teeth. This allows the teeth to loosen in their sockets and infection to enter the root socket. The teeth will loosen and fall out or have to be extracted.
2) Infection will accumulate in the mouth, resulting in gingivitis, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis (sore throat). Although antibiotics may temporarily suppress the infection, if the tartar is not removed from the teeth, infection will return quickly.
3) Infection within the mouth will be picked up by the blood stream and carried to other parts of the body. Some kidney and heart disease may be cuased by this infection.
What is involved in cleaning my dog's teeth?
Proper cleaning of the teeth requires complete cooperation of the patient so plaque and tartar can be removed properly. Anesthesia is required to thoroughly clean the teeth. Although anesthesia always carries a degree of risk, the modern anesthetics in use in our hospital minimize this risk, even for older dogs. Depending on your dog's age and general health status, blood may be analyzed prior to anesthesia to evaluate blood cell counts and major organ function.
There are four steps in the cleaning process that will be used on your dog:
· Scaling removes the tartar above and below the gum line. This is done with hand instruments and ultrasonic cleaning equipment.
· Polishing smoothes the surface of the teeth, making them resistant to additional plaque formation.
· Flushing removes dislodged tartar from the teeth and helps to remove the bacteria that accompany tartar.
· Fluoride coating decreases teeth sensitivity, strengthens enamel, and decreases the rate of future plaque formation.
What type of scheduling is needed for teeth cleaning?
In order for us to clean your dog's teeth, we ask that you schedule the procedure a few days in advance. It will be necessary to withhold food after midnight the night before; please do not remove the water. Your dog should be admitted to the hospital early by 9 AM and will generally be ready for discharge in the late afternoon. The dog will need to stay indoors that evening to insure that no accidents (falls, etc.) occur until complete recovery from anesthesia. If that is not possible, you may elect to have the dog spend the night in the hospital. The recovering dog should be offered small amounts of water and food that evening. By the next morning your dog will be completely recovered and you can feed and water normally.
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