What Is Veterinary Dentistry?
Veterinary Dentistry encompasses many aspects of oral care that many owners and veterinarians are not aware of. It is more than "scraping tartar off of teeth" or "pulling teeth". It encompasses everything from home oral hygiene education for owners and veterinarians, support for clients in implementing the daily oral home care program, regular veterinary prophylaxis, pediatric dentistry, periodontal disease diagnosis and options for treatment. Oral and dental disease in animals is similar to humans and similar treatments are available, including the following:
- Periodontics
- Oral Surgery
- Oral Medicine
- Endodontics
- Restoratives
- Prosthodontics
- Orthodontics
- Root Canal Therapy
- Braces
- Extractions
- Guided Tissue Regeneration
- Periodontal Surgeries
- Cancer Surgery
- Fractured Jaw Fixation
- Medical Management Of
Immune-mediated Oral Disease
- Filling Cavities
- Gold Crowns
How Are Oral And Dental
Diseases Diagnosed?
Oral and dental disease is a difficult thing to diagnose, especially in its infancy, because the mouth is a challenging place to examine. Sometimes the pet feels uncomfortable, is wiggling, or trying to bite or scratch. Sometimes the veterinarian focuses on the issue the pet was initially presented for. However, preventing oral disease and proper diagnosis and treatment is very important to the pet’s overall health and quality of life. Oral and dental diseases have been linked to more serious problems such as heart, liver, and kidney disease. For example, in periodontal disease conditions, the same bacteria found in the mouth may also be found in heart valves. Regular prophylaxis by the veterinarian and daily oral home care can help, control, prevent, or eliminate most dental disease.
At Indianapolis Veterinary Referral, our veterinary dentist, will carefully examine and diagnose your pet’s oral and dental health and tailor the treatment plan to your pet to provide an improved quality and length of life and increase your pet’s overall health.
What Should You Look For?
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your pet may have oral or dental disease that could lead to more serious problems:
- Bad Breath
- Red or Bleeding Gums
- Loose Teeth
- Lumps and Bumps in the Mouth
- Head Shyness
- Rubbing Face on the Ground
- Ropey or Bloody Saliva
- Difficulty Picking Up Food,
Chewing, or Swallowing Food
- Chewing Food on One Side of the Mouth
- Nasal Discharge, Sneezing
- Broken Teeth
- Discolored Teeth
- Missing Teeth
- Malpositioned or Rotated Teeth
- Dental Malocclusion
IVR's Promise
- We promise to provide you the necessary information to choose a treatment plan best suited to you and your pet, and to help educate and support you in your decision.
- We promise to provide you with current information and dental expertise using up-to-date methods and equipment.
- We promise your pet will be our top priority from the time we accept them under our care until they are released.
- We promise to work as part of a health care team for your pet, which includes you, your regular veterinarian, your pet, and the Indianapolis Veterinary Referral staff.
