Upon physical examination, your pet has been diagnosed with:

Stage 1 2 3 4 Periodontal Disease.

Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding the tooth caused by bacterial accumulation in the form of plaque on the surface of the teeth.
·    It is the most common infection diagnosed in dogs and cats.
·    It is a progressive disease that gets worse with time.
·    Periodontal disease is hidden under the gums in the earliest stages of the disease.  Once it can be seen in the exam room, the disease is in the advanced stages.
·    It may cause your pets mouth to be painful.
·    Chronic inflammation caused by periodontal disease may have a negative impact upon the health of vital organs such as the liver, heart, and kidneys.
·    Treatment is determined by examination and radiograph findings under general anesthesia.  The full extent of the problem cannot be determined until your pet is anesthetized.
Common problems associated with periodontal disease include:
·    Gingival (gum) recession.
·    Missing teeth.
·    Tooth furcation/root exposure.
Oral Assessment, Treatment & Prevention (Oral ATP™) is necessary to address periodontal disease and to maintain the best quality of life reasonably available to our pets.
·    Oral ATP™ begins in the exam with a physical examination of your pet’s teeth.
·    Once the pet is anesthetized, each tooth is examined individually for abnormalities.
·    Radiographs of the teeth allow the attending veterinarian to assess the health of the root-structure of each tooth.
·    A plan for treatment of any diseased teeth can then be made and carried out.
·    Once the teeth have been treated, our staff will help you determine preventative steps you can take at home to help maintain your pet’s healthy mouth.

Why Does My Pet Need This Treatment? It is very important to understand the real reasons behind why your pet needs an Oral Assessment, Treatment and Prevention is not just cosmetic and goes way beyond fresh breath.

·    Preventing painful teeth and unnecessary suffering:  Animals hide their symptoms of dental pain by either not chewing their food or chewing on the opposite side the mouth and will often not show outward noticeable symptoms of pain despite having severe, excruciating pain
·    Preventing infections of the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys:  Plaque and tartar is mostly bacteria and the presence of periodontal disease allows this bacteria access to the blood stream on a daily basis, allowing occurrence of systemic infections that can decrease both quantity and quality of life.