Veterinary dentistry involves cleaning or extracting your pet’s teeth, as well as other facets of oral healthcare. Similar to when humans visit the dentist, veterinary dental cleaning includes removing plaque and tartar from your pet’s teeth via scaling and polishing.

Such treatments prevent conditions like periodontal disease, infected or abscessed teeth, teeth and bite misalignments (malocculusion), broken or fractured jaws, palate defects, broken teeth and roots, and tumors or cysts in the mouth.

Your pet’s teeth and overall oral health should be checked at a minimum of at least once per year, but you should bring them in for a checkup sooner if you notice that they have teeth that are broken, loose, discolored, covered in tartar, or if they have extra teeth or baby teeth.

Other signs of declining oral health include bad breath, abnormal chewing or drooling, a reduced appetite or refusal to eat, bleeding from the mouth, swelling or pain in or around the mouth, or are dropping food from their mouth. Changes in your pet’s behavior, such as increased irritability, may also be a sign of oral health issues. Be wary, however, as an animal in pain is more prone to biting than normal.

Keeping your pet’s mouth clean and healthy will improve their overall health and quality of life. The effect is even more noticeable when you have their teeth cleaned on a preventative basis, ensuring that they do not have to suffer through problematic conditions before getting treated.