February has become well known in the veterinary world as “DENTAL HEALTH MONTH“, but the veterinarians at Neighborhood Pet Clinic would like to think that EVERY month is about dental health! A question we are frequently asked at our clinic is, “When is a professional dental cleaning needed for my pet?” There are 4 stages of dental disease. Typically, your veterinarian will stage your pet’s dental disease during a physical examination. Most patients need a professional cleaning when tarter is visible on the teeth, which would be stage 2, but before it has caused swollen gums or gum recession, which would be stage 3 or 4. The key is to perform the professional dental cleaning before the disease has advanced and may not be reversible. If you have any concerns about the health of your pet’s teeth, feel free to call our clinic during DENTAL HEALTH MONTH to get your questions answered.