Dental Care & Cleaning
Ensuring your pet’s dental health is essential for their overall well-being. At Montclair Veterinary Associates, we offer comprehensive pet dental care and cleaning in Montclair, NJ, to keep your furry friend’s smile bright and their mouth healthy.
Pet Oral Care: Dental Cleanings For Cats & Dogs
At Montclair Veterinary Associates in Montclair, NJ, we are committed to our patients’ dental health and implement the highest quality dental care. We take a comprehensive approach to dental care, including dental health assessment, treatment, and prevention.
Many health problems start in the mouth. Plaque, tartar, periodontal disease, and infected teeth are sources of inflammation and infection for the rest of the body, as well as a source of pain in the mouth.
Dental disease can occur in pets of all ages, but if your pet is 3 years or older, they likely have tartar and plaque build-up on the teeth and probably need a dental cleaning. Older pets that lack preventive dental care and cleanings will have advanced tartar build-up and some degree of gum disease.
Identifying and Treating Dental Disease
The problem begins when plaque and tartar are allowed to build up on your pet’s teeth. Plaque harbors harmful bacteria, which can infect gum tissue and the root system of the teeth. This causes pain and can result in healthy teeth having to be extracted because the root structure has been compromised.
Regular professional cleaning by Montclair Veterinary Associates is essential to maintaining your pet’s health at any age. Dental cleanings must be performed under general anesthesia to properly and safely examine and clean the teeth. We use modern and safe ultrasonic equipment to thoroughly clean each tooth above and below the gum line. Dental technicians polish the teeth to create a smooth, lustrous surface that is more resistant to plaque buildup.
After the teeth are cleaned and polished, we’ll perform a thorough oral exam and check each tooth for any signs of dental disease (gum loss, root exposure, pockets around the root). Extensive dental disease may require the tooth to be removed (extracted). Many teeth require oral surgery to remove each root safely. We have extensive training and experience to perform these procedures properly. Oral nerve blocks are performed, and additional injectable pain medications are administered if teeth are extracted.
Your pet will also be sent home with oral pain medication. Pets recover quickly following these procedures, and once the gums have completely healed, they resume eating their regular dry kibble even when multiple teeth are extracted.