What is a Tooth Extraction?
A tooth extraction refers to the process of removing a tooth due to disease or other dental issues; dogs of any age and breed can require a tooth extraction. While this process sounds painful and uncomfortable for your dog, it is one of the most commonly performed procedures by veterinarians and can be done with minimal disruption to the health and wellbeing of your dog.
Why do dogs need tooth extractions?
The need for tooth extraction can arise for any number of reasons, but more often than not, it is due to periodontal disease. Like humans, if your dog’s teeth aren’t kept clean and free of plaque, it can lead to the destruction of the gum tissue and can even degrade the jawbone. If plaque and tartar aren’t kept under control and immediately addressed, periodontal disease can result in painful abscesses and infection of the gums and blood.
Some other reasons for teeth extraction include trauma to the mouth or tooth resulting in breakages, an oral tumor, orthodontic abnormalities that cause pain to the dog, an unerupted tooth, and fractures of the jaw.
How can you tell if your dog needs a tooth extraction?
The only way to properly confirm whether your dog needs a tooth extracted is to seek veterinary advice. However, there are a number of tell-tale signs you can look out for at home that indicates a tooth may be causing your dog pain or discomfort and needs to be removed. Some general signs of periodontal disease in dogs include inflammation around the tooth, redness, bleeding gums, bad breath, discolored teeth, excessive drooling, favoring one side when eating, and a general worsening of mood.
In cases where periodontal disease isn’t present, keep an eye out for loose or broken teeth, crowding of teeth when adult teeth erupt, and reduced appetite. If you know your dog has suffered an injury to the mouth or face, be sure to get your dog’s mouth examined sooner rather than later.
How Does The Animal Doctors Perform Tooth Extractions?
The Animal Doctors team of Dr. Greg Bogatsky, Dr. Donald Jones, Dr. Megan Armor, and a registered veterinary technician all provide excellent dental care services for their dog patients.
Before any extractions can take place, The Animal Doctors team will perform an oral examination to determine the cause of your dog’s dental issues and any other points of concern. This process generally involves taking X-rays of the mouth and taking blood to assess your dog’s general health. The blood sample is used to ensure your dog is fit and healthy enough to undergo general anesthesia.
Once a treatment plan has been established by The Animal Doctors team, and your dog has been put under general anesthesia, one of our doctors or registered veterinary technician will perform a more thorough examination of the mouth.
Our doctor or registered veterinary technician will use a probe to look for signs of periodontal disease under the gum. When the extraction takes place, the dental nerve is numbed and a dental drill is used to section the dental nerves and the tooth is removed. Once all diseased teeth are removed, the doctor will also use this time to scale and polish any remaining teeth, ensuring that they remain free from plaque and tartar build-up.
Rest assured that your dog won’t feel any pain during the extraction process. And, your dog will likely remain at The Animal Doctors on an IV drip until they have properly recovered from the anesthesia. Though, once your dog is given the all-clear by one of our doctors, you will be provided with pain medication and extensive after-care instructions to keep your dog comfortable until their gums are fully healed.
Your dog’s dental health is crucial to their quality of life so come and visit Dr. Bogatsky, Dr. Armor, Dr. Jones, and The Animal Doctors team for a consultation if your dog is suffering from poor oral health. But even better yet, pay The Animal Doctors a visit as a preventative measure so that your dog does not suffer from any future potentially painful dental issues.
The Animal Doctors services the entire San Francisco Peninsula, including Atherton, Cupertino, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, Stanford, and Woodside.
