Regardless of size, some
dogs accumulate tartar very young whereas others are tartar - free into their senior years.
Not all teeth will
accumulate tartar at the same rate and this can be dependent on factors like how your dog chews and whether there is good alignment of the teeth.
Professional cleaning of the teeth is necessary at times throughout our pets lives to
remove accumulated tartar before more advanced disease leads to tooth loss.
First, an ultrasonic scaler will be used along the surface of the teeth, as well as below the gum line, to
remove accumulated tartar and plaque.
Older dogs and small breed dogs both tend to
accumulate tartar more rapidly, and require more aggressive treatment to maintain their oral and overall health.
Even with this, some dogs — and it sounds like your dog is one — seem very prone to
accumulating tartar.
There also seem to be unknown genetic factors affecting the defences of the host that may cause some dogs to be more prone to
accumulating tartar and hence developing gum disease.
Sometimes the teeth may become so severely affected from
the accumulated tartar and plaque, that they become infected and / or loose.
Once a pet is anesthetized,
accumulated tartar and calculus are removed by ultrasonic and hand scaling.
Although you can remove
the accumulated tartar above the gum line, in dogs that are extremely co-operative, there are three problems with doing this.
Although you can remove
the accumulated tartar above the gum line, in cats that are extremely cooperative, there are three problems with doing this.
Note that if your pet has
any accumulated tartar, it must first be removed with a dental cleaning at a vet clinic.