Dental problems are frequent in dogs and cats. Studies show that 70% of animals from 3 years of age onwards suffer from dental problems to a greater or lesser extent. If timely intervention is not taken, irreversible damage occurs to teeth, gums and jaw bones.
Dental problems can be prevented by stopping the build-up of tartar. As an owner, you have an important task in this: the main thing is to brush the teeth daily. But even if this succeeds, it does not preclude regular dental care at the vet under anaesthetic. Compare with us: we also brush daily and yet we go to the dentist for annual maintenance.
Sometimes dental problems also go unnoticed for a long time so they are already at a more advanced stage. Dental care under anaesthesia is then necessary not only to eliminate pain, but also to prevent infections and injuries elsewhere in the body.
Cleaning (tartar removal and polishing) of the teeth is done under anaesthesia because the area under the gums also needs to be treated. Here, we use sharp instruments and a water-cooled ultrasonic scaler, where small uncontrolled movements of the head can quickly lead to damage. Cleaning the teeth below the gums is always uncomfortable. In humans, this is possible without anaesthesia because we cooperate willingly. Animals do not. Removing only the visible tartar is neither effective nor useful. It only makes the teeth look better, leading to a false sense of security
Moreover, many conditions of the oral cavity can only be diagnosed with a thorough examination under anaesthesia. Sometimes cavities in the teeth can be determined by careful inspection, sometimes dental radiography is required. Again, this can only be done under general anaesthesia. Teeth that cannot be saved are removed. Cathy’s motto: it is more important to have a pain-free mouth without teeth, than a mouthful of teeth that are a permanent source of pain.
Modern anaesthesia, along with monitoring and support, carries little risk. Patients are intubated to prevent dirt and bacteria from entering the trachea.
Iscavets veterinary practice has both an anaesthesia machine, with the possibility of ventilation, and the necessary devices for anaesthesia monitoring. In addition, we are also equipped with a dental unit and a device for taking digital radiographs of teeth.