Dental Care

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some pets develop significant dental disease by 2–3 years of age, while others maintain healthy teeth for much longer.

During your pet’s annual or semi-annual wellness exam, we’ll evaluate their oral health and let you know when a professional cleaning is recommended. Regular dental exams allow us to identify problems before they become painful or require extractions.

Many pets continue eating normally even when they have significant oral pain. Common signs include:

• Bad breath
• Yellow or brown tartar buildup
• Red or bleeding gums
• Dropping food while eating
• Chewing on one side of the mouth
• Pawing at the face
• Difficulty eating hard food
• Loose or missing teeth
• Swelling around the face or jaw

Unfortunately, many pets show no obvious signs until dental disease is advanced, which is why routine veterinary exams are so important.

No. While many owners think “dog breath” is normal, persistent bad breath is usually the first sign of dental disease.

Bad breath is most commonly caused by bacteria accumulating beneath the gumline, where it can lead to painful infection and damage to the teeth and supporting bone.

A professional dental cleaning is much more than polishing the visible teeth. At Cascade Heights Veterinary Center, a complete dental procedure includes:

• A full oral examination under anesthesia
• Dental radiographs (X-rays) to evaluate the roots and bone below the gumline
• Ultrasonic scaling above and below the gumline
• Polishing the teeth to slow future plaque buildup
• Evaluation for fractured, infected, or loose teeth
• Tooth extractions if necessary

Dental X-rays are especially important because up to 60% of a tooth lies beneath the gumline and cannot be evaluated during a visual exam alone.

General anesthesia allows us to safely and thoroughly clean below the gumline, obtain dental X-rays, and evaluate every tooth without causing stress or discomfort. Attempting these procedures on an awake pet would be unsafe and incomplete.

At Cascade Heights Veterinary Center, your pet is carefully monitored throughout anesthesia by trained veterinary professionals using advanced monitoring equipment.

They can be—for the right patient.

Cascade Heights Veterinary Center partners with Animal Dental Care to offer non-anesthetic dental cleanings for carefully selected pets. These cleanings help remove tartar from the visible surfaces of the teeth and may be appropriate for pets with minimal dental disease who are cooperative during the procedure.

However, they are not a replacement for a comprehensive anesthetic dental procedure. Non-anesthetic cleanings cannot clean beneath the gumline, obtain dental X-rays, diagnose painful disease below the surface, or treat infected teeth.

If we suspect periodontal disease or painful dental problems, we’ll recommend a full anesthetic dental cleaning instead.

Many painful dental problems occur below the gumline and cannot be seen during a routine examination.

Dental X-rays allow us to identify:

• Tooth root abscesses
• Fractured tooth roots
• Bone loss
• Resorptive lesions in cats
• Retained tooth roots
• Hidden infections

Without dental radiographs, painful disease can easily be missed.

Yes. Dental disease doesn’t stay confined to the mouth. Chronic oral infection causes ongoing inflammation, and bacteria can enter the bloodstream, potentially affecting the heart, kidneys, and liver.

More importantly, untreated dental disease is painful and can significantly reduce your pet’s quality of life.

Daily tooth brushing remains the gold standard for preventing dental disease. Other helpful options include:

• Veterinary-approved dental chews
• Prescription dental diets
• Water additives recommended by your veterinarian
• Dental wipes or gels when brushing isn’t possible

No home-care product completely replaces professional dental cleanings, but consistent home care can significantly slow the progression of dental disease.

The earlier, the better. Puppies and kittens can begin learning to accept tooth brushing as early as 8–12 weeks of age.

Starting young helps make brushing a normal part of your pet’s routine and greatly improves long-term dental health.

Not necessarily. Many pets keep healthy teeth throughout their lives with good home care and regular professional dental cleanings.

When extractions are recommended, it’s because a tooth has become painful, infected, fractured, or no longer healthy enough to save.

We recommend having your pet’s teeth evaluated during every wellness examination.

Since dental disease progresses gradually, regular exams allow us to catch problems early, often before your pet shows any signs of discomfort.

Not usually. While many people believe kibble acts like a toothbrush, most pets simply crush or swallow it without much cleaning action.

Certain prescription dental diets are specially designed to reduce plaque and tartar, but regular dry food alone is generally not enough to prevent dental disease.

Absolutely. Dogs and cats are remarkably good at hiding pain. Many pets with severe dental disease continue eating because it’s a basic survival instinct.

It’s common for owners to notice that their pet seems more energetic, playful, or happier after painful teeth are treated.

Dental disease is the most common medical condition we see in companion animals. By the age of three, the majority of dogs and cats have some degree of periodontal disease.

The good news is that regular veterinary care, professional cleanings, and consistent home dental care can dramatically improve your pet’s oral health and quality of life.