 
Feline Dental Disease Canine Dental Disease Dental Disease is the Most common Pet Health Problem! Recent studies show that over 65% dogs and cats over 2 years of age and over 80% of pets 5 years and above are suffering from moderate to severe dental disease? This preventable situation can lead to any of the following problems: - Gingivitis (Gum Disease) and oral pain
- Halitosis (Bad Breath)
- Loss of Appetite
- Early teeth loss
- Oral abscesses
- Spread of bacteria into the Heart, Liver, Kidneys and other
organs
Dental health is one of the cornerstones of good preventive medicine in dogs and cats. Allowing this disease to go untreated can lead to pre-mature loss of teeth, oral infections and sometimes life threatening systemic infections. At ARPH we believe strongly in preventive health care and have developed our skills and services to provide you with comprehensive dental services to keep this problem in check. Over the past few years, we have created a state of the art dental operatory that rivals a human dentist's office. Our equipment list includes high and low speed hand pieces for drilling and polishing, ultrasonic scaler for deep cleaning of the teeth, and dental x-ray machine to take diagnositic x-rays of the teeth etc. This equipment, along with the additional training that both Dr. Shufer and Dr. Henderson have completed, allows us to develop and perform the appropriate diagnostic and treatment plan for just about any dental problem that might arise.    Dental Table Dental X-Ray Taking X-rays Life Long Dental Hygiene: Dental disease is a progressive problem that must be constantly addressed if we are to maintain a healthy mouth for your pet. There are a number of things that you, as an owner can do to help tend to your pet's oral hygiene: Home Care Keeps Them Smiling! You brush, you floss, you Plax and still you have to see your dentist twice a year to keep you teeth healthy. The same holds true for your pet’s mouth. Most owners have difficulty finding the time (or inclination) to brush their pet’s teeth, but if you can do it, the rewards in terms of your pet’s good health and better breath will be worth it. Brushing your pet’s teeth should be done at least once daily as the plaque bacteria lay down tartar continually and it hardens in 24-48 hours. Brushing should be done in the evening after the food is taken up. You should use a toothpaste made for pets (We recommend C.E.T. Poultry flavored) as they taste good to the pets and won’t foam up like human products. There are three different products generally used for brushing:  - The Fingerbrush (a small plastic brush that fits on your fingertip
- Pet toothbrush (angled specifically to let you work in the mouth without getting your hands in the way)
- Dental pad (an abrasive pad infused with dental polish)
Most of our clients tend to prefer the finger brush but all the products work well providing you use them! Brushing should be done in a downward direction away from the gums. Many pets resist you opening their mouths and so it may be better to hold their muzzles closed and place your finger (with the fingerbrush or dental pad on it) or the toothbrush under the gums and brush blindly. We try to teach puppies and kittens to like this behavior so it will be a routine procedure for them. If this is a new concept for your pet, work them into it slowly. Start by just putting your fingers in their mouth and massaging their gums. Then let them taste the tooth paste to get used to it. Finally start the brushing and stop as soon as they have had enough. Gradually increase the time of the brushing until you can cover the entire mouth in one setting. If you are uncertain how to do this, our technicians will be happy to demonstrate for you!
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