Dentistry is an important part of your pet's health. Just like us, animals need regular dental care.  If left untreated, diseases of the mouth, gums or jaw are not only painful to your companion, but may also be contributing factors to more widespread systemic disease processes. The American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 70-85% of dogs and cats show signs of oral disease by age 3.

The severity of dental disease depends on age, diet, breed and at-home care.

Small breed dogs typically represent the majority of infections and will

present at an earlier age than larger breed dogs. Abnormal signs and s

ymptoms of dental abnormalities include: pain, bad breath, excessive

drooling, fractured or loose teeth, swelling or bleeding of the gums, tumors,

sores or wounds.

Our team at Crocker Veterinary Care will perform a thorough dental exam

at every appointment and any decisions to perform a dental will be thoroughly discussed. Dentals are necessary in some instances to help alleviate pain and infection that may be present in your pets teeth.  General anesthesia is necessary for pets undergoing dental treatment.

While it is understandable that pet owners may be concerned about bad breath and unsightly tartar accumulation, regular dental care is more than cosmetic: Tartar and plaque, often invaded by bacteria, need to be removed to counteract subsequent infection, gingivitis or pyorrhea (infection of tissues surrounding the teeth), with 60% of disease occurring below the gum line.

Crocker Veterinary Care staff is well-skilled and equipped to perform dental procedures such as:

• Ultrasound de-scaling of tartar

• Deep-gum cleaning

• Fluoride treatments

• Teeth polishing

• Extractions

After your pet’s treatment, you and your Crocker Veterinary Care team can discuss home dental care for your companion animal in order to understand how to maintain a disease-free oral cavity and to maximize his or her comfort and quality of life.