When it comes to dental care, of course prevention is better than cure. There are products which can go into food and water to help prevent plaque build up, but the best prevention is daily tooth brushing. However, if there is a large accumulation of plaque on the teeth then your pet will benefit from a scale and polish under a general anaesthesic. The teeth are not just scaled but are also examined for signs of root exposure and gum recession. Any teeth requiring extraction can be removed at the same time. The remaining teeth are then polished to reduce the build up of plaque in the future.