Dentistry

We all know how important it is to brush our own teeth every day, but we don’t realize that our furry friends might need oral hygiene too. Cats with untreated dental problems are more likely to have kidney infections, heart murmurs and shorter lifespans.

Cat Clinic of Iowa City offers a range of dental services including oral exams, dental cleanings and treatment of most dental problems.

Before any treatment or in-depth oral exam, it is necessary to anesthetize your cat (adult humans understand that dentists are trying to help us, but our feline friends usually don’t perceive the situation in the same way). In order to minimize the risks of anesthetics, a pre-anesthetic exam is done. Any necessary lab work to check liver and kidney function and hydration status is performed at this time. Also, any other problems your cat may have are monitored closely.

Once everything is checked and ready, your cat is gently placed under anesthesia, safety and monitoring equipment are put in place, and blankets and kitty-sized socks are used to keep your cat warm.

During feline oral exams, your cat’s mouth is charted. Then we check for hidden problems, determine the degree of any disease and decide which treatment(s) will benefit your cat.

Your cat’s teeth are scaled (cleaned) to remove plaque and tartar. This eliminates the source of infections from bacteria. The teeth are then polished until smooth, to eliminate rough spots where bacteria like to grow. Over time, teeth become scratched and pitted again, making it easy for plaque to build up.

If any treatment is deemed necessary, it is then performed. Treatments can include tooth extraction, root planing and doxyrobe application. Finally, OraVet Sealant is applied to clean, dry teeth to create a barrier that reduces bacteria’s ability to stick to teeth.

Once all procedures are finished, your cat is carefully monitored and kept warm until he or she awakes. Once your cat has demonstrated the ability to get to food and litter box again, you are free to re-claim your furry friend, complete with clean, healthy teeth.

It is important to maintain the cleanliness of your cat’s mouth, particularly if your cat has had dental problems in the past. This includes choosing the right food to feed your cat, as well as brushing your cat’s teeth. Our Articles page includes a helpful primer on “How to Clean Your Cat’s Teeth.”

		Dr. Brian Hayes Fellow, Academy of Feline Medicine 1705 First Avenue Mini-mall (across from Eastdale Plaza) (319) 351-2252
	Dentistry We all know how important it is to brush our own teeth every day, but we don’t realize that our furry friends might need oral hygiene too. Cats with untreated dental problems are more likely to have kidney infections, heart murmurs and shorter lifespans. Cat Clinic of Iowa City offers a range of dental services including oral exams, dental cleanings and treatment of most dental problems. Oral Exams Before any treatment or in-depth oral exam, it is necessary to anesthetize your cat (adult humans understand that dentists are trying to help us, but our feline friends usually don’t perceive the situation in the same way). In order to minimize the risks of anesthetics, a pre-anesthetic exam is done. Any necessary lab work to check liver and kidney function and hydration status is performed at this time. Also, any other problems your cat may have are monitored closely. Once everything is checked and ready, your cat is gently placed under anesthesia, safety and monitoring equipment are put in place, and blankets and kitty-sized socks are used to keep your cat warm. During feline oral exams, your cat’s mouth is charted. Then we check for hidden problems, determine the degree of any disease and decide which treatment(s) will benefit your cat. Cleaning Your cat’s teeth are scaled (cleaned) to remove plaque and tartar. This eliminates the source of infections from bacteria. The teeth are then polished until smooth, to eliminate rough spots where bacteria like to grow. Over time, teeth become scratched and pitted again, making it easy for plaque to build up. If any treatment is deemed necessary, it is then performed. Treatments can include tooth extraction, root planing and doxyrobe application. Finally, OraVet Sealant is applied to clean, dry teeth to create a barrier that reduces bacteria’s ability to stick to teeth. Once all procedures are finished, your cat is carefully monitored and kept warm until he or she awakes. Once your cat has demonstrated the ability to get to food and litter box again, you are free to re-claim your furry friend, complete with clean, healthy teeth. Teeth before cleaning Teeth after cleaning Oral Care Maintenance It is important to maintain the cleanliness of your cat’s mouth, particularly if your cat has had dental problems in the past. This includes choosing the right food to feed your cat, as well as brushing your cat’s teeth. Our Articles page includes a helpful primer on “How to Clean Your Cat’s Teeth.”
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