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Just as you look after your teeth to prevent plaque and dental disease, you also have to care for your pet's teeth too. Maintaining healthy gums is important. This is the starting point of any dental program. The gums protect the underlying tissues and bone that anchor and support the teeth in your pet's mouth.

Gum disease, or periodontal disease is caused by bacterial infection that builds up in a substance called plaque. Plaque is made up of food particles and saliva. It readily sticks to the tooth surface above and below the gum line and if not removed will calcify into tartar (or calculus). Over time the bacterial infection in tartar causes irreversible changes to occur. These include the destruction of supportive tissues and bone, resulting in red gums bad breath and loosening of teeth.

More than 85% of dogs and cats over four years old have some form of periodontal disease. So look out for the signs such as:

• Bad Breath
• Loose teeth
• Bleeding gums - Discoloured teeth
• Receding gums
• Reluctance to chew or eat

If you think your pet is showing the signs of gum disease it is important that treatment is started immediately before any irreversible changes occur.

Just contact one of our reception staff to make an appointment with your vet for a dental check-up.

Teeth may be broken by chewing bones that are too large, by fighting and by accidents. A freshly broken tooth that exposes the nerve is painful and needs immediate attention. After several days the nerve becomes irreversibly inflamed and then dies. This allows infection to enter the tooth and gain access to the root.

Once infection is present the tooth needs either extracting or root canal filling. Left untreated these teeth can cause abscesses in the jaw bone and be a source of bacterial infection that can spread to the heart, kidneys and other major organs. Contact us immediately if you notice a broken tooth.

Treating gum disease involves thorough scaling and flushing to remove tartar, plaque and infection from above and below the gum line. The teeth are then polished to help reduce future plaque build up. Any loose or badly infected teeth will be removed. Antibiotics may be required for particularly severe cases. These procedures are carried out under a general anaesthetic. Local anaesthetic and pain relief are given when required.

Just like your own dentist we use specialised dental instruments including ultrasonic scaler, hand curettes, air driven drills and polishers. When required we also do dental restorations and endodontic procedures to save important teeth.

Patients receive basic blood testing, intraoperative fluids, gas anaesthesia, and specialised equipment for anaesthetic monitoring. An experienced veterinary nurse will provide dedicated patient monitoring.

Once the healing has occurred, your pet should be fed food that provides 'dental exercise' - that is - chewy, abrasive food as outlined earlier. You will also receive a complimentary dental check-up by one of our qualified veterinary nurses. We encourage you to obtain regular check-ups so your veterinarian can detect any cracks, chips, holes, loose teeth, gum ulcers, growths and infections.