Clean Teeth?

cosmo

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 9, 2006
Messages
32
Purraise
1
Hello All,

Last year my vet told me that my cat should get his teeth cleaned. I looked and noticed some tarter build up, but not a whole lot. So I put it off, now it's about one year later, still not much tarter build up.

Vet said they'd have to sedate him to clean his teeth.

Do cats really need to have their teeth cleaned; or is it just another service the vets are trying to make money from?

Thanks.
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
Some cats need dentals yearly others, may need one or none in there lives.... If your unsure of your vets recommendation of now ... Get a second opinion...
Yes, cats have to be sedated for teeth cleaning.... Kitty will likely need pre op blood work also ..
 

landwish

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 25, 2006
Messages
34
Purraise
0
Location
Texas
It's a great idea to take good care of your cat's teeth. They shouldn't be horrible before you decide to get him in for a dental.
 

purrpaws

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 28, 2005
Messages
1,212
Purraise
11
Location
Urbana, IL
I agree with getting a second opinion if you doubt the first vet's recommendation. I think most cats end up needing a dental at some point in their lives. It's important because many diseases can start in the mouth because of all the bacteria there.
 

les0304

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2006
Messages
176
Purraise
1
Originally Posted by Cosmo

Do cats really need to have their teeth cleaned; or is it just another service the vets are trying to make money from?
I am sorry, and I know that there are some not-so-good vets out there, but this line really frustrates me.

OK, as far as the cat's teeth goes, if the vet suggested a dental and the cat doesn't have large amounts of calculus, then I would say the vet has a good standard of care.

A lot of the calculus buildup occurs below the gumline, where you won't be able to see it, and that is where Periodontal Disease begins to develop.

When the cat goes in for a dental cleaning, they have to be put under general anesthesia and are intubated to prevent aspiration into the lungs. While the cat is sleeping, a complete dental cleaning is performed which includes cleaning the teeth as well as under the gumline. After that is done, then the teeth are polished to remove any inconsistencies in the tooth's enamel. For example, our routine dental includes a full oral exam by the tech and the dr., hand scaling, ultrasonic scaling, gingival probing (to check the depth of gingival pockets), polishing, charting, rinsing, and application of a sealant. So there is a lot more involved than just removing the visible tartar.

I would say that if your vet has already recommended a dental cleaning before an excessive amount of buildup is evident, he/she is providing a good standard of care.


Hope this helps you a little.
 

gizmocat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 14, 2006
Messages
1,396
Purraise
13
Location
Ontario, Canada
PLEASE be sure to have bloodwork and a checkup done before sedating the cat!
Any incipient heart trouble will be made far worse by the anasthesia. While it's important to have the cat's teeth cleaned, the cure can be worse than the disease!

My poor girl was shown to have some heart trouble last year, so we never did get around to cleaning her teeth. I am hoping that there is nothing wrong this year--if so, Gizmo will have to be sedated and have her teeth cleaned.
But the vet was right to delay.
 

tru

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
996
Purraise
2
Location
Michigan
Originally Posted by Les0304

OK, as far as the cat's teeth goes, if the vet suggested a dental and the cat doesn't have large amounts of calculus, then I would say the vet has a good standard of care.

A lot of the calculus buildup occurs below the gumline, where you won't be able to see it, and that is where Periodontal Disease begins to develop.

When the cat goes in for a dental cleaning, they have to be put under general anesthesia and are intubated to prevent aspiration into the lungs. While the cat is sleeping, a complete dental cleaning is performed which includes cleaning the teeth as well as under the gumline. After that is done, then the teeth are polished to remove any inconsistencies in the tooth's enamel. For example, our routine dental includes a full oral exam by the tech and the dr., hand scaling, ultrasonic scaling, gingival probing (to check the depth of gingival pockets), polishing, charting, rinsing, and application of a sealant. So there is a lot more involved than just removing the visible tartar.

I would say that if your vet has already recommended a dental cleaning before an excessive amount of buildup is evident, he/she is providing a good standard of care.


Hope this helps you a little.
It is sounding more and more like I'd rather go to a vet and be sedated and have the very thorough cleaning than what I am subjected to at the dentist and periodontist.
 

gailuvscats

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 30, 2006
Messages
2,283
Purraise
34
Location
philadelphia
How old is your cat? In the past I've had cleaning may once or twice if the teeth looked caked with tartar. The cats were usually over 5, one was done because she had a cracked tooth which needed to be removed. I considered having one done when she was around 8 because I didn't want her to go into old age and need it done when she was real old, but the vet said they were ok and she didn't need it. I have three young males now 1and 2years, and everyones teeth look fine. All that to say if your cat is over 5 and if the dentist recommended it last year, and if the back teeth are caked with calculus, maybe you should have it done for a safer transisiton into the senior years.
 

jcat

Mo(w)gli's can opener
Veteran
Joined
Feb 13, 2003
Messages
73,213
Purraise
9,851
Location
Mo(w)gli Monster's Lair
Actually, some cats, like people or dogs, are more prone to tartar build-up than others, so it's hard to generalize just based on age. I've had cats that rarely needed a dental cleaning, and others who've needed them regularly. Jamie had his first at the age of three, and now needs one about every other year (he's 7). One predecessor, Pirate, lived to the age of 23, and his teeth were only cleaned twice that I recall, both times when he was over ten, and about 5 years apart. Both were treated by the same vet.
 
Top