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Dental Health for your Pets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Veterinarian & Dentist Team Up to Cure
Ill Health & Death of Pets Caused by Dental Infections

MISSION VIEJO, CALIF… Local veterinarian Dr. Eric Van Nice of Animal Dental Services recognized the glaring lack of available dental care for pets in Orange County. To fill this need, Dr. Van Nice has teamed up with nearby celebrity dentist Dr. Rodger Kurthy, a pioneer in numerous fields of dentistry.

Veterinarians have long understood the very significant effect of dental and gum diseases on health and life span, according to Drs. Van Nice and Kurthy. For years veterinarians have seen chronic dental abscesses and gum disease in pets are responsible for causing a very high percentage of health-related problems and death in pets. Although chronic abscesses and gum disease often go unnoticed by pet owners and veterinarians alike, they can spread to most of the vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, blood vessels, lungs, heart, and even the brain, often resulting in poor health and even death of the pet.

Dr. Kurthy says that in humans, chronic dental and gum infections, which go unnoticed and untreated, have been shown to reduce the average human life span by ten years. People with chronic gum disease or other dental infections are 2.6 times more likely to die from any natural cause. Dr. Van Nice adds that chronic dental and gum infections are much more common in pets because they can't tell their owners what they're feeling, and usually home dental care for pets is non-existent. Therefore, the life span and health statistics are even more staggering for pets than for humans.

The teamwork between Drs. Van Nice and Kurthy started a number of years ago when Dr. Van Nice showed x-rays of a dog's dental infection to Dr. Kurthy, who is his dentist. The x-ray was difficult to read because the x-ray machines in veterinary offices are not designed to take x-rays of teeth. With the help of Dr. Kurthy, Dr. Van Nice decided to learn all phases of veterinary dentistry and equip his office to properly diagnose, treat, and prevent dental infections in pets. Over the years, Dr. Van Nice has routinely consulted with Dr. Kurthy regarding the dental disease of his pet patients and Dr. Kurthy has assisted Dr. Van Nice on unusual cases. Through years of highly advanced specialty training, Dr. Van Nice has become a recognized specialist in veterinary dentistry.

Dr. Van Nice is able to diagnose early dental and gum disease in pets and prevent its spread. He is also able to diagnose those chronic infections, which would normally go unnoticed. Both Dr. Van Nice and Dr. Kurthy are confident this new dental health awareness and treatment will allow pets to live a much longer, healthier, and comfortable life, free from undiscovered dental infections and pain.

Both doctors say that there are several things that pet owners can do themselves to improve their pet's dental and gum health. They have collaborated on a chapter to be added to one of Dr. Kurthy's books. This new chapter will discuss the connection between oral infections and health, pain, and life span of pets; proper at-home dental care for pets; and proper veterinary dental examinations.

It's a good idea to start a pet's dental care right away, say the doctors. Puppies and kittens get temporary (baby) teeth at a very young age. Provide a young pet with a chew toy that will help strengthen and develop its teeth. Permanent teeth will start to appear at the age of 3-4 months and will usually all be in by 6-7 months of age.

Whether the pet is young or old, plaque and tartar will build up on pets' teeth just as it does in humans. This will cause inflammation and infection of the gums called gingivitis and periodontitis. Infections (dental abscesses) of teeth are also quite common. Some pets chew on hard objects with so much force that the nerves of certain teeth die and occasionally teeth can break. Some pets are fed human food, which causes cavities that can also kill the tooth nerves. When the nerves of teeth die, infections form pus inside the jawbone around the tips of the tooth roots. The germs from gum and tooth infections enter the blood stream and are distributed to all parts of the body.

Most warning signs of these infections are not present until the later stages of infection. By this time, substantial health problems may already be present. These warning signs include bad breath or mouth odor, red gums, loose teeth, pus between the gums and teeth, broken teeth, an unusual growth in the pet's mouth, reluctance of the pet to eat a normal diet of hard food, refusing to play with a favorite chew toy, avoidance of cold water, and chewing on only one side of the mouth.

Pet dental checkups, cleaning, and treatment can take place at the time of booster vaccinations or yearly health exams. Dental cleanings are very important to help maintain the general health of a pet. At the same time, dental x-rays can now be taken to find and treat tooth abscesses. Sealants, fluoride, and antibacterial solutions can be applied to strengthen teeth and gums and make them less susceptible to infection.

Dr. Van Nice feels that brushing a pet's teeth is an important part of home dental care. It breaks down the daily deposit of bacterial plaque before it hardens into tartar. To start a daily brushing routine, Dr. Van Nice provides pet owners with gauze squares, or they may use a wash cloth. Owners should wrap the gauze or cloth around a finger to use like a toothbrush., then rub the teeth, front and back, with strokes from the gumline to the tip of the tooth.

Dr. Van Nice advises pet owners to do this once or twice daily for a couple weeks until their pet becomes accustomed to the routine. Then they can switch to a soft toothbrush, using only plain water at first. After a few days they may use a small amount of special dog or cat toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste because it can make a pet quite sick. Owners should be sure to get the bristles of the brush into the crevice where the gums and teeth meet.

It's easiest to start this at an early age, but all pets will benefit from brushing at any age. Most pet owners find brushing is much easier than they anticipate, and that it greatly helps and prevents the foul mouth odors caused by the gum and tooth infections. After a short time, pets actually seem to enjoy the attention, and feel proud of themselves afterwards when praise is given. Pet biscuits and un-moistened hard pet foods also help clean the teeth, but do not take the place of brushing.

Dr. Van Nice now provides treatment for pet cavities, gum disease, broken teeth, and abscessed teeth. The doctors both stress the important role the pet owner plays in good oral health of their pets. Pet owners should start a thorough dental health program at a very early age. It includes yearly dental checkups and cleanings at the time of booster vaccinations or health exams. It also includes home prevention techniques such as brushing your pet's teeth, examining your pet's mouth yourself, feeding your pet dry pet food and biscuits, and avoiding feeding your pet human foods such as snack foods and table scraps.

For more information, contact Dr. Van Nice at (949) 334-9340 or log onto www.avsg.net/ads or Dr. Rodger Kurthy at (949) 588-1600 or log onto www.DentalMiracles.com.

Rodger Kurthy, DMD ~ 23032 Alicia Pkwy Suite D ~ Mission Viejo, CA 92692 ~ Phone: 949.588.1600

Rodger Kurthy DDS is a sedation and cosmetic dentist in Mission Viejo, California. Services provided by Dr. Kurthy include sedation dentistry,
cosemtic dentistry, bleaching, re-shaping of teeth, cosmetic bonding, dental makeovers, laser dentistry, implant dentistry, and more.

Now serving the Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, Rancho Santa Margarita,
Foothill Ranch, Laguna Niguel, El Toro, Laguna Hills, Portola Hills, and Lake Forest Areas.

Dental Health for your Pets

Local Veterinarian & Dentist Team Up to Cure Ill Health & Death of Pets Caused by Dental Infections

Rodger Kurthy, DMD ~ 23032 Alicia Pkwy Suite D ~ Mission Viejo, CA 92692 ~ Phone: 949.588.1600

Local Veterinarian & Dentist Team Up to Cure
Ill Health & Death of Pets Caused by Dental Infections