Tartar removal or dental scaling is one of the most important oral hygiene procedures for the health and wellbeing of pet dogs — here's everything you need to know.
Dental scaling is a routine oral hygiene procedure for our dog's wellbeing, yet it is often underestimated or poorly understood. In animals, as in humans, keeping the mouth and teeth clean and regularly checked are essential aspects of the health of the entire organism. It may sound like an exaggeration, but neglecting this can lead to a series of problems and, over time, to serious and often debilitating conditions.
The build-up of tartar in a dog's oral cavity varies from individual to individual and is often unrelated to the dog's diet and lifestyle. It all appears to be attributable to the acidity of the saliva, which can speed up or slow down its formation. Tartar is made up of mineral deposits that attach to the surface of the tooth and can penetrate beneath the gums into the so-called periodontal pockets. Since these deposits are heavily colonised by bacteria, tartar can cause gum inflammation and gum recession, which may expose the root of the tooth. Tartar build-up is easy to spot: simply lift your dog's lips slightly to observe their teeth.
Beyond visual inspection, other symptoms of excessive tartar include halitosis — bad breath — difficulty chewing and, in more advanced stages, gum inflammation and tooth loss. And that's not all. Bacteria present in the mouth can spread throughout the entire organism and, over time, give rise to all manner of conditions. Scheduling regular dental scaling for your dog can therefore be fundamental in preventing both minor and serious health problems.
"Before carrying out a dental scaling procedure," explains Dr Michela Galgano, veterinary surgeon, "the vet will prescribe specific tests to determine the dog's state of health in preparation for the general anaesthesia required for the operation." It is in fact essential to know that the dog will need to be deeply sedated for dental scaling, so that the surgeon can easily access the oral and gingival cavity. With the small patient asleep, the vet removes the tartar, cleans the gum pockets and checks for any decayed or diseased teeth.
The teeth are then "polished" to make it harder for tartar to build up again on the animal's teeth. Once the procedure is complete and the dog has woken from the anaesthesia, it can comfortably go home without any further issues. Only in particular cases — perhaps because a tooth has had to be extracted or in the presence of severe inflammation — will the vet prescribe a course of antibiotics for a few days.