patient exam

Tinkerbell and Spot

I don’t treat these patients but I know that they can get gum infections, toothaches, and periodontal disease, just like humans. Some canine and feline breeds are more susceptible to forming tartar, in particular.  Our pets have to rely on you, their owner, to get them in for a cleaning. They cannot tell us that their gums are sore or their teeth are loosening. But they will stop eating because it hurts.

Animals have their teeth cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner at the veterinarian’s office, using a device that is similar to the ones we use in the dental office.  Our four-legged friends cannot tolerate the sound of this device because their hearing is so much more acute than humans. They need sedation. Fortunately for humans, we have earbuds and gentle dental hygienists.

Now, if our pets could talk, they’d be just as concerned about your teeth as you have been about theirs. They consider teeth as one of the mechanisms for survival. Our pets’ natural instincts may kick in when defending themselves or warning you of intruders, at times, but they mostly need them to chew.  With this perspective, what would they say about how you take care of yours?

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