18 Nov Does My Cat Need a Dental Cleaning?
Does my cat need dental cleanings? Yes! Regular professional dental cleanings help prevent oral diseases which are common in cats and can significantly impact their quality of life. All dental procedures in animals require general anesthesia.
Regular Cat Dental Cleanings Can Help
Prevent Dental Disease:
- Cats are prone to dental issues like gingivostomatitis, periodontal disease, and tooth resorption.
- By the age of 3, most cats begin to show signs of some level of periodontal disease, which can lead to pain, tooth loss, and systemic health issues if left untreated.
Reduce Tartar and Plaque Buildup:
- Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, which irritates gums and causes inflammation.
- Dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar that cannot be addressed with strictly at-home dental care.
Avoid Pain and Infection:
- Dental disease can cause oral pain, difficulty eating, and other problems, such as abscesses.
- Untreated dental disease can eventually cause systemic issues. Bacteria can get into the bloodstream and affect vital organs such as the heart, liver, or kidneys.
Sings and Symptoms of Dental Disease in Cats
Some signs to look for if you think your cat may have some dental disease are things like:
- Bad breath
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Drooling or pawing at the mouth
- Difficulty eating or a preference for soft foods
- Yellow or brown tartar buildup on the teeth
- Loose or missing teeth
Step of Dental Cleanings for Cats
Professional cat dental cleanings (under general anesthesia) are a 10-step process:
Step #1. Awake examination of the head, face, neck, eyes, cheeks, jaws, mouth, and teeth. This helps to identify problems that may not be obviously visible inside the mouth.
Step #2. Anesthetized examination of the structures noted above, in addition to a complete exam of the mouth, teeth, and inside the throat.
Step #3. Dental imaging. During this step, full-mouth dental radiographs (x-rays) and a cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan are performed. Dental radiographs and CBCT will reveal problems that cannot be detected on visual examination alone. CBCT is advanced 3D imaging of the dental structures.
Step #4. Supragingival cleaning (above the gumline). The calculus and plaque are removed from the tooth surfaces by use of an ultrasonic scaler and with hand instruments that allow access to difficult to clean spaces.
Step #5. Subgingival cleaning (below the gumline). A special periodontal ultrasonic scaler and specialized hand instruments are used to remove the calculus and plaque that have accumulated below the gingival margin. The subgingival area is where periodontal disease develops. Therefore, this is the most important area to clean.
Step #6. Polishing. This removes any fine scratches left on the tooth surface by the ultrasonic scaler. Leaving scratches or roughened tooth surface promotes more rapid recurrence of plaque and calculus.
Step #7. Irrigation. The sulcus between the tooth and gum is flushed with water, saline or antiseptic solution to remove any loose particles of calculus, tissue, or polishing paste that could contribute to gingivitis.
Step #8. Post cleaning exam and diagnostics. During this part of the procedure, the depth of the pockets around each tooth is evaluated to assess for periodontal disease. The teeth are also evaluated for gum recession, bone loss, enamel damage, and loosening.
Step #9. Charting is performed. Charting allows for better communication in and between offices, as well as providing a record that can be used for future comparisons.
Step #10. Specific dental therapy. This is often the most involved part of the dental procedure. This includes oral surgical procedures such as surgical tooth extractions, periodontal surgery (the creation of gingival flaps to perform deep cleaning of teeth with advanced periodontal disease), and oral mass/tumor removals.
It also includes non-surgical procedures such as placement of an antibiotic gel, called Doxirobe, which helps treat mild to moderate periodontal disease. Other procedures that may be performed include root canal therapy, restoration of damaged teeth, applying sealants to exposed dentin, and various other procedures.
At-Home Dental Care
There are some things you can do at home to help maintain your cat’s oral health (tooth brushing), but it should not be relied on as the only form of dental care. At-home dental care should be done in conjunction with regular professional dental cleanings. See our How to Recognize the Signs of Dental Pain in Cats blog for more information.
Final Thoughts
Because it can be difficult to tell when a cat is in pain, regular veterinary checkups that include an oral exam are very important. At Animal Dental Specialists of Nevada, our goal is to provide the highest quality of specialty dental care. If you believe that your feline friend is experiencing oral pain or discomfort, please call us to schedule a consultation. We want to make sure your cat’s smile remains as purr-fect as possible!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (11/18/2024) Image by Szabolcs Molnar from Pixabay