Feline Dental Care

Yes, cats get dental diseases too!  Between 50 and 90% of cats older than four years of age suffer from some form of dental disease, but fortunately the most common forms of these diseases are largely preventable or treatable with appropriate preventive dental care and monitoring.  Dental disease in cats can cause serious pain and discomfort, which can impact a cat’s quality of life. In many cases, dental disease can cause a cat to stop eating, leading to a variety of other health problems. Learn more about the common feline dental diseases by visiting our Common Feline Dental Diseases page. 

Professional Feline Dental Care at Van Meter Veterinary Clinic

Van Meter Veterinary Clinic’s comprehensive, preventative dental services for cats includes:

• A detailed oral examination
• Comprehensive dental cleanings with polishing and fluoride treatments
• Instructions and product recommendations for at-home dental care
• When needed, minor oral surgery such as tooth extractions. 

During your cat’s dental treatment, we will perform a complete evaluation of your cat’s mouth and gums. Your cat needs to be under safe anesthesia while we perform our dental exam and treatment.  

We use modern and safe ultrasound to clean each tooth thoroughly, above and below the gum line. Dental technicians polish teeth to create a smooth tooth surface that is more resistant to plaque buildup. Fluoride treatments help in strengthening the enamel and reduces tooth sensitivity.  We remove plaque and mineral buildup by scaling and polishing your cat’s teeth. In extreme cases of periodontitis or tooth resorption, extraction of teeth may be required.

Before your pet’s dental treatment, we recommend blood tests to confirm that your cat is a good candidate for anesthesia. Your cat will then be safely placed under anesthesia while we perform the dental exam and cleaning. During the entire procedure, a trained technician will carefully track your cat’s vital signs using an advanced monitoring system.

At-Home Dental Care for Your Cat

Regular home dental care will prevent the buildup of plaque on your cat’s teeth. Brushing your cat’s teeth daily significantly reduces the buildup of plaque on the teeth. Ask us if you have any questions about brushing your cat’s teeth, we will gladly show you our techniques!

Signs of Dental Disease in Cats

Please call us today to schedule a dental exam and cleaning for your cat if he or she is exhibiting any of these symptoms:

• Swelling, redness, discomfort, and, in severe cases, bleeding where the gums and the teeth meet (the gingival margin). 
• Cat may be hesitant to eat or has stopped eating.
• Cat turns his or her head unusually while eating.
• Drooling.
• Will only eat soft foods.
• Exposure of tooth roots.
• Loose teeth.