Dental Care

At Riverside Veterinary Hospital, we recommend dental check-ups at your pet’s annual wellness visit to help prevent serious dental problems. We perform routine dental services including annual examinations, professional teeth cleaning, tooth extractions, and dental radiography.

One of the most common medical conditions in pets is dental disease. More than two-thirds of dogs have some degree of dental disease by age 3. Small breeds and those with short snouts are more likely to develop dental disease at an even earlier age due to their smaller jaws and crowding of teeth. Dogs can suffer from dental problems that are the same as or similar to those that people experience. People, however, tend to develop tooth decay and cavities while dogs tend to develop periodontal disease.

Neglected dental hygiene leads to periodontal disease initially through a buildup of plaque on the surface of the tooth and below the gum line. Over time, the bacterium in the plaque leads to inflammation of the gums, the destruction of supportive tissues and bone which results in red gums, bad breath, tooth loss, gum infection, and pain. Periodontal disease is also linked to liver and heart disease and has the potential of shortening your pet’s life.

You can help prevent serious dental problems by making sure that your pet receives regular professional dental cleanings and a good daily home dental care program.

With the added advantage of regular screenings using digital dental radiography, our veterinarians can locate potential problem areas. Dental x-rays enable us to identify tooth root changes (like abscesses) and alveolar bone loss, and it gives us the opportunity to discover teeth that are painful or require extraction.

Signs of periodontal disease:

• • Aggressive behavior
• • Bad breath
• • Bleeding from the mouth
• • Broken or loose teeth
• • Gum recession and/or gum swelling
• • Pain in or around the mouth
• • Pawing at the face or mouth
• • Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
• • Swelling of the face
• • Teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
• • Weight loss

If you notice your pet having any of these symptoms, it’s possible that periodontal disease is already in advanced stages. Call today for a dental evaluation for your pet. Riverside Veterinary Hospital treats patients from Sparta, Cookeville, Smithville, Livingston, Gainesboro, Crossville, McMinnville, and everywhere in between.