Bella stopped dragging her favorite rope toy across the living room a few weeks ago, and her owner felt confused. Tug of war was Bella’s favorite game, so it didn’t make sense that she would suddenly lose interest.
A visit to the vet revealed a broken tooth that turned out to be badly infected. They referred Bella to us for a tooth extraction. In no time at all, she was dragging her rope around the house again, asking to play.
But tooth extractions aren’t the only reason pets might need dental care. Here are six reasons why you should make yearly dental exams part of your pet’s preventive care routine.
1: Tartar Buildup
Pets need to get their teeth cleaned by a dentist, just like we do. Plaque buildup can calcify into tartar in as little as a day or two, and the longer it stays on your pet’s teeth, the more trouble it causes.
A professional cleaning is the best way to prevent symptoms like yellow teeth and bad breath from turning into tooth loss down the road.
2: Periodontal Disease
Most dogs and cats have some degree of tooth decay by age three, and periodontal disease is usually to blame. It starts as inflammation that makes the gums look red (instead of pink and healthy).
Eventually, the infection works its way below the gumline to attack the bone and gum tissue holding the teeth in place. Ultimately, it causes tooth loss, but before that point it also causes a great deal of pain.
Periodontal therapy addresses that inflammation directly and can help stop the disease before it gets to that point. It removes hardened plaque and tartar that trigger an inflammatory response.
3: Tooth Resorption
One of the biggest dental problems for cats is tooth resorption. It’s an extremely painful process where the tooth structure itself starts breaking down from the inside, and no one fully understands why it happens.
Most cats will develop at least one resorptive lesion in their lifetime. After once a tooth is affected, extraction is typically the only way to resolve the pain. It’s not a problem that’s visible on the surface, which is part of why yearly dental x-rays matter so much, even if your cat’s teeth seem fine.
4: Cracked or Broken Teeth
For dogs, tooth fractures are probably the most common dental problem. Dogs can crack their teeth by chewing on anything hard, whether it’s a bone or a stick or the wrong kind of toy. Aggressive chewers often fall victim to tooth fractures, so keep an eye out for changes in behavior that might indicate tooth pain.
Once a fracture exposes the pulp inside the tooth, it’s essentially an open wound. This leaves the living tissue vulnerable to infection and pain.
When a tooth is too damaged to save, an extraction will relieve the pain quickly. In some cases, though, restorative dentistry can save a fractured tooth that would otherwise need to come out.
5: Retained Baby Teeth or Misaligned Teeth
This problem starts when pets are still puppies and kittens, long before anyone’s thinking about “dental problems.” Baby teeth are supposed to fall out as the adult teeth come in, but sometimes they don’t, and both teeth end up crowded into the same space.
That crowding traps food and bacteria, speeds tartar buildup, and can shift the teeth into a crooked bite that’s uncomfortable for the rest of a pet’s life. Flat-faced dogs, as well as small toy breeds, have severe dental crowding because all 42 teeth are packed into a tiny mouth with compressed jaws. A simple tooth extraction means you won’t have to deal with bigger problems down the road.
Board-Certified Veterinary Dental Care in Stafford, TX
You know your pet best! If something seems off, or your pet’s habits change, it’s a good idea to consult a vet. In Bella’s case, that referral saved her a lot of unnecessary pain and suffering.
If your pet has never had a dental exam, it’s worth it to make an appointment. We’ll give their teeth a thorough cleaning, take x-rays to uncover any hidden problems, and recommend further treatments if needed.
Photo by Angel Luciano on Unsplash with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 9/21/26.