Veterinary Dentistry

Happy Pets Have Healthy Smiles

East Wake Animal Hospital is pleased to offer a full suite of dental services in-house. Our veterinary team is trained to provide complete dental care for your cats and dogs. We are equipped with a surgical suite that has the capability to monitor your pet while they are under anesthesia.

If you have questions about your pet’s dental health, our veterinarians will take the time to answer your questions and put your mind at ease.

We will walk you through every step of the process. It’s important to us that we offer affordable care services so that you don’t need to worry about making sure your pet receives the care they need. With East Wake Animal Hospital, your pet’s smile is in the best hands.

Has your pet had a dental exam recently? Call (919) 825-1373 to schedule an appointment with our veterinary team.

Understanding Animal Dental Disease

Dental disease is the most common issue afflicting cats and dogs. Also known as periodontal disease, even the most attentive pet parents easily overlook this condition. However, periodontal disease can develop into serious health issues that can have severe impacts on your pet’s overall wellbeing.

Symptoms of periodontal disease include the following:

• Unusually bad or smelly breath

• Blood in your pet’s saliva or water dish
• Difficulty eating
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive drooling
• Loose or missing teeth

If your pet is exhibiting any combination of the above symptoms, make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. The earlier that you can treat your pet’s periodontal disease, the better.

Caused by an excessive buildup of plaque on the teeth, periodontal disease in pets is actually quite similar to periodontal disease in humans. Unlike humans, however, pets often don’t get their teeth brushed regularly.

As the bacteria builds up on the teeth, it creates a film of plaque. This bacteria hardens as it dies, creating more surface area for additional bacteria to cling to. Eventually, if the teeth are not brushed regularly, the plaque can move below the gumline.

This is where problems can occur. Plaque that moves below the gumline can cause infection, loose teeth, pain, and, if not treated promptly, permanent damage to the jaw bones.

Regular brushing can help dislodge the plaque on your pet’s teeth. However, at a certain point, a simple brushing won’t be enough to restore your pet’s oral health. A professional dental cleaning under anesthesia may be your pet’s best option.

Your veterinarian will use tools similar to those used by human dentists to scale your pet’s teeth and remove plaque. They will then polish your pet’s teeth and apply an anti-plaque coating for that your pet’s smile will stay healthy for the long term. After that, it’s a matter of keeping on top of your pet’s oral hygiene to avoid another dental procedure.

Dental Care at East Wake Animal Hospital

With our state-of-the-art surgical suite, your pet is in good hands when they come to East Wake Animal Hospital for a dental cleaning. No matter what your pet needs, our veterinary team is here for you and your pet.

Learn more about dental care at East Wake Animal Hospital by calling (919) 825-1373 or by booking online today.