Routine dental exams are a good idea for cats especially if a particular cat is prone to bad breath or tartar and plaque buildup. If your Bengal has trouble chewing or eating then he could have early or later stages of gingivitis. Swollen gums and bad breath is also another indicator for the need of a dental exam. In some cases, your vet may schedule a physical exam before scheduling a dental exam. He may do this to determine an initial cause of the symptoms. During the dental exam your Bengal cat will be sedated so that the vet can thoroughly check her teeth and gums for plaque, bacteria, etc. During the exam, your vet may also scrape plaque or calculus build-up from the teeth, pull rotted teeth and polish the teeth. To learn more about dental exams and dental disease in cats, click here, or give your veterinary clinic Richardson, TX a call.