Guide to Your Pet’s Oral Health

One of the most devastating diseases that a pet can develop during its lifetime is dental disease. However, through appropriate preventative measures and timely treatment of problems, we can deal with this problem before it presents a serious threat to your pet’s health.

You may be reading this because you’re in search of finding a solution for your dental problems, or simply searching to get your pet’s teeth cleaned at a veterinary facility.

“Let's start by highlighting a fundamental difference: Dr. Ezik is directly involved in every step of your pet's care. Unlike the majority of hospitals, where technicians perform cleanings while doctors tend to other cases, often driven by profit considerations, Dr. Ezik's philosophy revolves around one-on-one patient care. He is deeply invested in the well-being and safety of each and every pet he treats.”

What type of anesthesia will my pet receive during the procedure, and what precautions do you take to minimize risk to my pet during the procedure?

At EVC, your pet’s safety is our first concern. All patients receive a thorough physical examination and EKG readings prior to any anesthetic being administered. Laboratory tests are also run to assess your pet’s ability to process and metabolize the anesthetic drugs. An intravenous (IV) catheter is placed prior to anesthesia for the administration of drugs and fluids, as well as to provide the ability to rapidly administer treatment should your pet has a problem while under anesthesia. IV fluids are given to your pet during the procedure to maintain normal blood pressure and to ensure that there is good circulation to vital organs such as the kidneys. Injectable and inhalant anesthetics are used in combination to provide a level of safety similar to what you find in human hospitals. An endotracheal (breathing) tube is used to provide oxygen and inhalant anesthetics to your pet, while at the same time protecting the airways and lungs from water and debris that accumulate in the mouth during the procedure. Dr. Ezik, uses state-of-the-art body function monitors that takes constant readings of EKG, capnography, pulse oximetry and blood pressure measurements, to closely monitor your pet.

What kind of equipment do you use for dental procedures?

At EVC, we use both power and hand instruments during our dental procedures. Dental scaling (removal of accumulated plaque and tartar) is accomplished using a combination of a hand scaler along with a state-of-the-art “piezo water scaler”. Unlike magneto-strictive scalers used in 99% of animal hospitals, piezo scaler does not cause overheating of the tooth therefore is safer. The scaler cleans teeth surfaces and subgingiva (under the gum lines). Subgingival cleaning cannot be achieved without sedation and specialized instruments. We are also proud to be one of the few hospitals utilizing a state-of-the-art air polishing unit during dental procedures. This innovative air flow polishing technique uses a machine that cleans and polishes the teeth with a mix of water, compressed air and fine powder particles. This method is far superior to traditional cleaning methods that use rubber cups and polishing discs and which can be time-consuming, not reaching all the crevices and under gumline, therefore extending anesthesia times. A powerful yet controlled jet of water, air and fine powder not only polishes all the surfaces of a tooth, removing plaque, discoloration and soft deposits, but also reaches deep into periodontal pockets up to a depth of 5 mm. It is far more efficient than traditional scrape and polish treatment at removing the damaging biofilm that develops when dental plaque is colonized by bacteria and can cause periodontitis to develop.

We routinely use dental radiography to take x-rays of the teeth and surrounding bone to ensure that the roots are healthy, and to identify problems below the gum line so that they can be treated. We use digital radiography in our dental suite so that we can take our x-rays faster and even transmit them to specialists for review if necessary. If extractions or other procedures are required, we have a high-speed dental drill with a full assortment of bits and burrs to make sure that the job is done correctly and completely.

My pet may require extractions of one or more teeth. Doesn’t that hurt? What pain control do you provide?

At EVC, we take the comfort of our patients very seriously. Extractions and other surgical procedures in the mouth are often painful after your pet wakes up. We include local anesthetics to numb the teeth and systemic pain medications in our anesthetic protocols to prevent your pet from experiencing pain upon waking up. We believe that it is never acceptable for a pet to be in pain, and we take immediate action to prevent and manage pain and discomfort that can occur from dental procedures and oral surgery.

What kind of follow-up care do you provide after the dental procedure? Will you advise me on how to minimize and prevent recurrence of dental disease in my pet?

At EVC, we routinely schedule a 10 day follow-up appointment at no charge after any kind of oral surgery to evaluate the healing process and ensure that everything is going well. We are happy to address any questions or concerns you may have about your pet, before or after the procedure. We are also very proactive in advising you on how to take care of your pet’s oral health at home. Although we have the expertise and the equipment to deal with some of the worst dental problems, it always makes us smile to see our patients with healthy mouths.

How about non-anesthetic dental cleanings that I keep hearing around?

Non-anesthetic dental cleanings in pets, focusing solely on cosmetic outcomes, overlook critical aspects of oral health. This method fails to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the pet's oral cavity, potentially missing underlying issues that require attention. Without anesthesia, it's challenging to conduct thorough cleanings or obtain essential dental radiographs, which are crucial for diagnosing conditions beneath the gum line. This approach can lead to overlooked dental diseases, emphasizing the importance of professional, anesthetic dental care for thorough assessment and treatment of pet dental health.