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Teeth Cleaning?

post #1 of 5
5/31/10 at 8:28pm
Thread Starter 
Do you have your kitties' teeth cleaned as recommended by your vet? Years ago I worked at a state veterinary college and heard a lot of things about "practice management" and ways to increase income which makes me very leery that it's just a money making thing for them. I feel the same way about a lot of things they recommend, i.e., some vaccines that I don't think are necessary for indoor-only cats. I do understand that dental problems can contribute to other health problems but I just hate the thought of having my cats put under anesthesia unnecessarily. One of my cats in particular had a very hard time with the anesthesia when he was neutered so I would be a nervous wreck where he's concerned.
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post #2 of 5
6/1/10 at 1:27pm
I surely do have their teeth cleaned as recommended. My boy develops tartar - so far, we've been cleaning every other year. Of course I have the blood work done first, but my vets' practice usually works it out so I'm having his senior panel done timewise so that we can use those results for his dental.

Then again, I get my teeth cleaned twice a year too. I guess I'm lucky - I truly do trust my vets and my dentist to recommend what is useful in preventive care.

But, if one of my cats had a very hard time with a particular anesthetic, I'm sure the vet and I would be talking about health benefits and alternate possibilities. I do wish I could brush my kitties' teeth - I've got the brush and everything, but just doesn't work out so well for us!
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post #3 of 5
6/1/10 at 3:15pm
I understand the concern as I've had the same issues with people dentists who want you to come in 3 x a year instead of the 2 x the insurance covers. I also had a dentist that wanted to do deep cleaning under the gum line. Most of these are revenue generating moves and not needed if you take good care of your teeth.

With that in mind, I'm taking my 7 yr. old kitty in later this week to have her ears flushed. I'm going to have her sedated, and will ask about a dental at the same time, since she will already be under. Also will do a blood test since she has kidney issues. In other words, she's getting the full tune up! I don't want to waste the happy juice.
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post #4 of 5
6/4/10 at 8:26pm
In the past, I have had my older girl's teeth cleaned yearly, ears flushed, and sr. blood panel done. However, I recently went to a new (different) vet and she said that really the only time a dental is needed is if there's tartar build up and it can't be chipped off with a fingernail or there is chronic gingivitis or teeth problems. She recommends using hydrogen peroxide on a q-tip and massage it into the gumline.
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post #5 of 5
6/5/10 at 6:14am
I did have to put one of my cats under for a dental. His cheek teeth in the back were just COVERED with tartar... so bad you couldn't see the teeth anymore - just the little points where he bit down. Keep in mind he was a rescue and I got him at age 2.

I put all of them on a regimen of enzyme toothpaste, dentrifice powder in their food every day and occasional enzyme dental chews. Ghost's teeth improved about 40% over the course of several months, but I finally said to my self that he NEEDED to get that impacted tartar OFF of there. Now that it is done, I am sure he feels better... he is chewing his dry food more, too.
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