Dental Care

Preventive Care
Periodontal disease is the most prevalent problem small animals develop. Imagine what it would be like if you never brushed your teeth. Imagine if you'd never visited the dentist. Then you can imagine what it is like for your pet. If you have never had your pet's teeth cleaned then your pet may be at risk for developing gum disease. Besides bad breath, gum disease can lead to loss of appetite and weight. Bacteria from gum disease can enter the bloodstream and can travel to major organs and begin infections there. The organs most commonly susceptible are the lungs, heart, kidneys, and liver. This decline can shorten your pet's life. Regular dental cleanings and polishing is recommended. We can talk to you about special dental diets, treats and chews, as well as proper brushing techniques for your pet's teeth.

Digital Dental Radiography
Old Dominion Animal Hospital uses the latest technology in dental radiology - Digital Imaging. Dental images are captured and then transferred to a computer screen where they can be enlarged, enhanced, and saved. We can take a part of the full screen image and enlarge it or adjust the contrast to enhance our ability to make a diagnosis. These extremely clear dental images allow us to evaluate the health of the teeth and gums, and to see any bone loss. They also allow us to easily show you images of your pet's teeth.

There are other advantages to using digital dental radiography. There is about a 75% reduction in the amount of radiation used when taking the image, which makes it safer for your pet and for our staff. Taking the images requires less time and so your pet spends less time under anesthesia. The image appears immediately on the screen, so if we need to retake a "film" we can do so right away. The process is not only easier on your pets and on our staff, but also easier on the environment. We no longer need the processing chemicals required to develop x-ray film.

Cleanings
Our hospital is equipped with modern, high-speed dental machines and our staff is specially trained to meet your pet's dental needs. We offer fiber optic cleaning and scaling, along with polishing and Fluoride treatments. Our veterinarians are trained to perform tooth extractions, if necessary. We provide pain prevention for our dental patients after their treatment.