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At Cat's Corner your kitty will receive dental care that is going to be above and beyond your expectations, here is why. First, all of our patients receive a complete physical examination before undergoing anesthesia. We offer pre-anesthetic blood work to ensure your kitty's internal organs are functioning well enough to metabolize the anesthesia.
An intravenous catheter (or IV) is placed into one of their front legs to allow us access to their bloodstream should an emergency occur. Having this IV in place also allows fluids to be administered before, during and after the procedure to support blood pressure, hydration and body temperature. Once these steps have been taken it is time for your kitty to receive an inhalant anesthetic.
 Following dental preparation and sedation we will ultrasonically scale any plaque off their teeth and look for abnormalities above and below the gum line. Next we take full mouth x-rays with our digital radiograph system. Similarly to what occurs at your own dental visits, we can look for cavities, tooth decay, underlying abscesses or root issues. The x-rays allow us to confirm any and all teeth that will need to be extracted. This prevents any unnecessary dental work and allows us to address all diseased teeth, including those with disease hidden below the gumline.
All extractions are accompanied by a nerve block, which reduces pain for your cat and allows us to administer a lighter amount of anesthetics. The diseased teeth are surgically extracted by removing bone to ensure the entire root is removed. The bone is then smoothed and the gums are sutured over the extraction site. The sutures are self-dissolving and do not require removal. Lastly, once all the work is finished, we apply a protective sealant to temporarily prevent further adherence of tartar (bacteria).
Antibiotics and pain medication will be sent home with you as needed for your kitty's comfort and infection prevention. We will also offer to you a highly recommended prescription dental food. It can be fed as a treat or regular diet. The kibbles are porous inside, so when your kitty bites down to chew them the inside of the food acts as a toothbrush. This maintenance is certainly easier than trying to brush their teeth!
Dental health is becoming one of the most important preventative steps you can take to ensure your loved ones live a long, happy and healthy life. In removing dental tartar you are giving the gift of 3-5 years of life!
Please feel free to call with further questions or to schedule a dental consultation with Dr. Ball at a time convenient for you.
Click photos to enlarge.
Healthy mouth |
Unhealthy mouth, heavy build up of tartar and gingivitis |
X-ray of healthy mouth, healthy root |
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