Here’s a fact that surprises almost every pet owner we tell: dental disease is the single most common health problem in dogs and cats. Over 68% of pets older than three have some form of dental or periodontal disease, and most of the time their families have no idea. It’s a hidden, often painful condition, and catching it is one of the most valuable things we do at Skaer Veterinary Clinic.
If you were unaware that dogs and cats even get dental problems, you’re in good company. Let’s walk through what’s actually going on in your pet’s mouth, why it matters for the rest of their body, and what you can do about it here in Wichita.
Pet dental disease isn’t like ours
In people, the most common dental problem is tooth decay, the cavities that come from calcium loss in the enamel. In dogs, decay accounts for less than 10% of dental problems. The overwhelming majority of dental disease in dogs and cats is something different: periodontal disease.
So your pet probably isn’t getting cavities the way you might. They’re dealing with infection and inflammation around the teeth, which is a quieter problem and, in some ways, a more serious one.
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is inflammation or infection of the tissues surrounding the tooth. It starts small and builds over time. Tartar, also called calculus, accumulates on the teeth and under the gum line. That buildup pushes on the gums, which begin to recede, and infection follows close behind. Left untreated, the infection spreads into the tooth socket, the tooth loosens, and eventually it’s lost.
It’s estimated that more than 68% of dogs over three years old have some degree of periodontitis. That makes it, by a wide margin, the most common disease we see in dogs.
How tartar forms (and why it matters)
Every mammal’s mouth is home to thousands of bacteria. Many of them settle on the surface of the teeth and form an invisible film called plaque, or biofilm. Some of it gets removed naturally by your pet’s tongue and chewing. But what stays behind thickens, mineralizes, and becomes the hard, visible tartar you might spot along the gum line.
From there it becomes a cycle. Tartar presses on the gums, the gums recede, bacteria cause inflammation and infection (gingivitis), and the gums recede further until the socket is infected and the tooth is lost. Some dogs and cats mineralize plaque much faster than others, which is why two pets on the same food can have very different mouths.
Why a dirty mouth is a whole-body problem
This is the part we really want pet owners to understand. Dental disease isn’t just about the mouth. As the oral infection grows, those bacteria get absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to other organs. Heart valve infections, along with kidney and liver problems, are frequently linked back to bad teeth. Tonsillitis and pharyngitis can show up too.
So when we encourage dental care, we’re not being fussy about your dog’s smile. We’re protecting their heart, kidneys, and liver. It’s genuinely one of the best long-term health investments you can make.
Can tartar be prevented at home?
Yes, and this is where you come in. The single most important thing you can do to prevent dental disease is brush your pet’s teeth. We know that sounds ambitious if you’ve never tried, but it genuinely works, and most pets can learn to tolerate or even enjoy it.
Alongside brushing, there are dental diets formulated to reduce plaque and tartar buildup, plus special chews and toys that help. A quick note that catches people off guard: never use human toothpaste on your pet. It’s a foaming product that isn’t meant to be swallowed, and many human toothpastes contain sodium that can cause problems for some pets. We’ll set you up with pet-safe products and show you how to use them.
One honest caveat: dry food alone won’t scrub away tartar that’s already formed. Once it’s there, it has to be removed professionally.
What a professional dental cleaning involves
When tartar has built up, the fix is a professional scaling and polishing performed under anesthesia. Here’s what that looks like at our clinic, so there are no surprises:
- Pre-anesthesia bloodwork. Before anything else, we check that kidney and liver function are in good shape so anesthesia is as safe as possible. Sometimes we’ll start antibiotics ahead of the cleaning.
- Scaling above and below the gum line. We remove tartar both by hand and with ultrasonic equipment. The tartar hiding beneath the gum line is what causes the most damage, so reaching it matters.
- Polishing. After scaling, we polish the teeth to smooth the surface and slow down future plaque buildup.
- Any extra care that’s needed. Sometimes that means extractions or a fluoride application to reduce sensitivity and strengthen enamel. We’ll discuss anything like this with you, and we always ask for a phone number where we can reach you during the procedure in case we find something that needs a decision.
Because anesthesia and bloodwork are involved, a dental cleaning is always done by appointment. You can read more about how we approach this on our veterinary dentistry page, and our anesthesia page explains the monitoring we use to keep your pet safe throughout.
Keeping teeth healthy afterward
Here’s a number that motivates a lot of our clients: plaque and tartar can begin forming again within about six hours of a cleaning. That’s why we recommend starting a home dental routine for every pet, and we’ll give you clear, step-by-step instructions on brushing so it feels doable rather than daunting.
Not sure where your pet stands? Let’s take a look
Because dental disease is so common and so quiet, the smartest move is simply to have us check. Bad breath, reluctance to chew, or visible tartar are all worth a visit, but plenty of pets show very few signs at all. We check teeth as part of every wellness exam, so even a routine visit gives us a chance to catch problems early.
If you’re in Wichita or the surrounding communities and it’s been a while since anyone looked closely at your pet’s mouth, give us a call. A healthy mouth makes for a happier, more comfortable, and often longer-lived pet.
The Skaer Veterinary Clinic Team
