Teeth Cleaning

Promoting Greater Well-Being with Cat & Dog Teeth Cleaning in Virginia Beach, VA

Teeth help your pet eat, play, explore, and even defend themselves. When they're living in pain due to dental disease, it not only affects their mouth, it affects their quality of life. At Veterinary Hospital of Virginia Beach, we take a proactive approach to dental care that helps to prevent and sometimes reverse dental disease. We highly recommend routine professional cat and dog teeth cleaning appointments as well as consistent home dental care.

Be proactive about your pet’s dental care. Schedule a visit today for a dental assessment!

Request An Appointment

Or call us at (757) 340-6996

What Does Professional Cat & Dog Teeth Cleaning Involve?

Professional cat and dog teeth cleaning is an in-depth procedure that requires general anesthesia for your pet. It involves removing tartar and plaque from both above and below their gum line. This buildup of plaque and tartar on teeth below the gum line plants the seeds for periodontal disease. We use the same safety protocols for dental cleanings that we do for surgeries, so your pet is in safe hands.

Professional cat and dog teeth cleanings involve:

Digital dental X-rays to assess the health of teeth and roots below the gum line
A thorough exam to detect signs of disease such as periodontal pockets, gum inflammation, damaged teeth, etc.
Ultrasonic and hand scaling to remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth
Polishing to smooth the enamel of each tooth and reduce future buildup
Extractions of damaged teeth, if needed

In the event your pet needs an extraction, we’ll consult with you first before going ahead with the procedure. All pets who undergo extractions are given appropriate pain medication to help ease their discomfort.

Symptoms of Dental Disease

How do you know if your dog or cat might have dental disease? It can be hard to diagnose any illness without veterinary diagnostics, especially since cats and dogs hide mild symptoms quite successfully. Yet, there are some subtle indicators that could mean your pet has dental disease:

Bad breath – This is an early sign of disease, and goes unnoticed by most owners because they think “dog breath” is normal.
Reddened gums – Your pet’s gums should be a healthy pink color, but if they’re reddened at all, it could be a sign of gingivitis (gum inflammation).
Visible tartar buildup – Do your pet’s teeth look discolored? Are they yellowed or brown? This is tartar buildup, which is full of bacteria that slowly break down the enamel, bone, and roots of your pet’s teeth. And it contributes to bad breath, too!
Painful teeth and gums – If your pet has difficulty eating, chews only on one side, and no longer enjoys chewing on their toys, they could have painful teeth and gums caused by disease.

Tips for At-Home Dental Care

To help stave off dental disease, there are quite a few things you can do at home! While some things may take a bit more dedication than others (like brushing their teeth daily), any dental care you can do at home will have a significant impact on your pet’s oral hygiene. Plus, our team is always here to help you!

Here are some ways to prevent pet dental disease at home:

Brush their teeth daily with a pet toothbrush or finger brush and pet toothpaste
Supplement dental chews or dental treats into your pet’s diet
Place a water additive in their water bowl
Use oral rinses or sprays
Treat your pet to a dental toy
Ask your veterinarian about a tartar control diet

Promoting Greater Well-Being with Cat & Dog Teeth Cleaning in Virginia Beach, VA

Be proactive about your pet’s dental care. Schedule a visit today for a dental assessment!

Or call us at (757) 340-6996

What Does Professional Cat & Dog Teeth Cleaning Involve?

Contact Us