Tartar in a dog or cat: why does it appear and what does a veterinarian do to remove fossilized plaque?

Tartar is a common occurrence in dogs and cats whose owners do not brush their teeth. It is formed as a result of the interaction of plaque and minerals contained in saliva.

Causes of tartar formation

In addition to insufficient oral care, tartar can be caused by the following factors

1. Malocclusion. Due to the specific location, crowding, excess or insufficient number of teeth, the load on them is uneven. Food particles accumulate on the areas of the tooth surface that are not involved enough, plaque is actively formed, which is gradually mineralized.
2. Feeding from the table. Habitual human food disrupts the natural acidity and microflora of the oral cavity, which accelerates the fossilization of plaque.
3. Lack of solid food in the pet's daily menu. Dogs and cats are carnivores, and their jaws are designed to chew on fairly dense food. It is also necessary for cleaning teeth from plaque.
4. Metabolic disorders. A malfunction of vitamin and mineral metabolism can accelerate the formation of tartar. It can occur due to diseases of the internal organs or urinary system, as well as an unbalanced diet.

Tartar cannot be cleaned with ordinary cleaning; only a professional procedure can help. If you notice yellow, gray, or brown deposits on your pet's teeth, contact our veterinarian dentist.

How is tartar removed?

One method of removing these deposits is ultrasonic cleaning. It is with the help of ultrasound that we clean the teeth of our patients at Animal Clinic, as it is the most modern, safe and painless method. Timely cleaning of the animal's teeth helps to avoid the development of inflammatory gum disease, which causes the teeth to become loose and fall out.

Anesthesia is used to perform ultrasonic dental cleaning on an animal with tartar. Thanks to it, the patient does not feel pain, and the veterinarian-dentist calmly performs the procedure, because the pet does not move and is completely relaxed.

The specialist uses an ultrasonic device - a scaler. Dental plaque is removed by ultrasound wave streams that locally affect the problem area. During the cleaning, the dentist can switch the power and use different attachments: their choice depends on the degree of complexity of the dental condition.

The ultrasonic scaler can remove not only tooth enamel but also gum pockets where pathogenic bacteria accumulate. The procedure can take up to 1 hour if it is performed on a large breed dog or cat. If the animal is a small breed, the veterinarian will do it in 30 minutes or less. Take care of your pet's oral health with the help of Animal Clinic professionals.