Dental Diseases in Danville

Dental Diseases in Danville, CA

Periodontal disease affects most pets by age three, and Tassajara Veterinary Clinic offers thorough diagnosis, treatment, and prevention to protect your pet’s oral health.

Schedule an Appointment

With over 80% of dogs and 70% of cats showing signs of oral disease by age three, regular dental treatment is part of an overall wellness plan. Dental disease doesn’t just cause bad breath and affect the mouth — it can also contribute to disease of the heart, lungs, and kidneys, and cause chronic pain that makes pets less sociable and lowers their quality of life.

You play an important role in preventing periodontal disease at home. Brushing, dental chews, and dental diets all help reduce plaque and tartar buildup on your pet’s teeth. Just as you brush your own teeth daily, your pet benefits from regular brushing to help prevent periodontal disease. We understand that some pets won’t tolerate home brushing, which makes regular professional dental treatment even more important for catching oral disease while it’s still reversible. Our dental care page covers our full range of services in more detail.

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is the most common condition we see in pets. It’s caused by an accumulation of bacteria, food, and saliva that forms a film on the teeth called plaque. This soft material mineralizes within 24 to 48 hours into tartar (calculus), which becomes a scaffold for even more plaque buildup. Plaque causes swelling and redness (inflammation) of the gums, and with severe gingivitis, the gums can bleed. Left unchecked, chronic inflammation leads to bone loss around the teeth and eventually tooth loss — a process that’s painful for your pet and a major contributor to bad breath.

Signs of Periodontal Disease

• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Drooling
• Difficulty chewing or eating; some pets swallow food whole
• Swollen or red gums that may bleed
• Receded gums
• Loose or missing teeth
• Fractured teeth
• Appetite changes, more common in cats than dogs when oral pain is present

Tooth Resorptive Lesions

Both dogs and cats can develop tooth resorption, though cats are more prone to this condition. Within the tooth, a pulp cavity containing blood vessels and nerves is surrounded by a boney substance called dentin, protected by enamel. In tooth resorption, the enamel erodes and exposes the dentin, which is gradually destroyed until the entire crown can be affected, and eventually the root as well. It’s estimated that 20 to 60 percent of all cats, and nearly 75 percent of cats over five, will experience tooth resorption at some point.

The exact cause of tooth resorption isn’t fully understood, but we do know these lesions are very painful, and the only effective treatment is extraction of the affected tooth. Dental X-rays, available through our digital radiology services, are crucial for determining the extent of resorption and the right extraction technique.

What Is a COHAT?

Prevention and treatment of periodontal disease starts with an awake oral exam to evaluate whether dental treatment is needed, based on plaque, tartar, and gingivitis levels. If a professional Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) is needed, it’s performed under anesthesia and includes a thorough oral exam, full dental X-rays, and charting of any mobile teeth, gingival pockets, or fractures. These findings help determine which teeth need extraction, and the remaining teeth are ultrasonically cleaned and polished.

Anesthesia Risks

Many clients are understandably apprehensive about anesthesia and may avoid dental treatment out of concern for a poor outcome. We take this seriously and perform a pre-anesthetic risk assessment for every pet, including a full physical exam and, when appropriate, bloodwork to assess organ function, protein levels, and blood sugar, plus a complete blood count and urinalysis. In some cases, we may also recommend a chest X-ray or echocardiogram. We use the safest anesthesia available, support every pet with IV fluids during the procedure, and carefully monitor oxygenation, EKG, and blood pressure throughout.

Preparation for the Procedure

• Drop off your pet between 7:00–8:00 am the morning of the procedure.
• Do not feed your pet after midnight the night before; water can be offered until the morning of the procedure.
• Let us know any medications your pet is currently receiving.
• We provide a written estimate for each procedure, though the exact stage of disease can’t be fully assessed until the COHAT evaluation.

Contact Our Trusted Veterinary Hospital in Danville

Contact Tassajara Veterinary Clinic at (925) 736-8387 today for more information on pet dental health and to schedule an appointment.

Additional Resources:

• Veterinary Oral Health Council
• American Veterinary Dental College

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Disease

Protect your pet’s oral health. Schedule a dental exam today.

Schedule an Appointment