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Did you know that pets, unlike their owners, frequently suffer from dental problems without showing any obvious outward signs of pain?
Dental disease can occur at any age and recent surveys have shown that as many as 70% of cats and 80% of dogs over three years of age need some form of dental treatment.
A common problem for pets and humans is gum disease. Plaque is the name given to a film of bacteria which is constantly forming on the surface of all teeth. If allowed to accumulate, it will inflame the gums - a condition called gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis frequently develops into periodontitis, a painful condition involving destruction of bone and tooth supporting structures and eventual tooth loss.
Cats may also suffer from one or more tooth resorptive lesions usually found at or below gum level. Here the tooth is progressively destroyed, leading to exposure of the nerve running down the centre of the tooth. These are generally extremely painful lesions, although cats will frequently show no obvious outward signs of toothache. Regular dental examinations are of great help in identifying dental disease before it becomes too serious - please ask us for further information on dental care for your pet!
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