Periodontal Therapy and Surgery for Dogs and Cats

As veterinary dental specialists we may be able to save some of a dog's or cat's teeth with periodontal disease form extraction. Treatment of a pet's periodontal disease is multi-faceted. If your pet has tartar or large amounts of plaque present, professional dental cleaning is first required, to perform a thorough oral examination, scaling and polishing. Dental radiographs are required to correctly diagnose and assist in treatment of patients with extensive disease. When periodontitis is present, several treatment options may be employed to save the teeth. Teeth with gum recession, root exposure or periodontal pockets may be candidates for periodontal surgery. Advanced periodontal procedures such as gingival flap surgery and bone grafting can be used to regenerate periodontal tissues and save teeth.

The pet patient’s overall health, the cost of specific treatments, and the owner’s willingness to provide home oral hygiene must be taken into account prior to performing periodontal therapy. Without diligent homecare by the owner to keep a pet's teeth clean and prevent recurrence of the periodontal disease, periodontal therapy will not be successful, and severely affected teeth will require extraction.