Veterinary Dentistry & Dental Surgery

A pet may need anesthesia before a dental cleaning to ensure their safety and comfort during the procedure. Anesthesia helps to keep them still and cooperative, reducing the risk of injury during the cleaning process. 

We will complete a thorough pre-anesthetic physical assessment for your pet before the dental exam.

We will perform blood work and urinalysis to ensure that your pet can safely undergo anesthesia. You may also conduct additional diagnostics, such as chest radiographs or an ECG.

Our veterinarians administer anesthesia to all patients undergoing dental procedures. This lets us complete a thorough examination and cleaning, as well as capture any required X-rays safely and efficiently without undue stress on the pet.

We will conduct a complete, tooth-by-tooth, oral examination and charting once your pet is safely under the effects of the anesthesia. We will clean and polish your pet's teeth (including under the gum line) and may take X-rays. We apply a fluoride treatment to each tooth as well as dental sealant to prevent plaque from attaching to the enamel.

Your veterinarian will develop a custom treatment plan and discuss it with you if they discover any oral health concerns. This treatment plan will include at-home care recommendations and may include dental surgery in extreme cases.

Your veterinarian may recommend scheduling a follow-up examination two weeks after the initial appointment.

This allows the vet to evaluate the effectiveness of the dental cleaning and at-home care and provide further recommendations for maintaining your pet's oral health in the long run. They may also want to schedule your pet's next dental cleaning.

If you have any questions, or forgot to ask one during the initial appointment, please don't hesitate to ask now.

Dogs and cats can develop periodontal disease or tooth decay due to poor oral health, just like us. Plaque sticks to a pet’s teeth when they eat and can build up into tartar if not cleaned away regularly.

Veterinary dental care can prevent conditions such as periodontal disease, tooth decay and even loose or missing teeth.

Most dogs and cats should see a veterinarian for a dental checkup once a year. Some pets may require more frequent appointments if they are more prone to dental problems.

Pets with dental problems may exhibit one or more of the following signs: excessive drooling (which may contain pus or blood), pawing at their mouth or teeth, repeatedly yawning, grinding their teeth, reducing grooming or dropping food from their mouth while eating. Bad breath, swollen gums, and tooth discoloration are other signs of oral health problems. Some pets may also stop eating.

Oral health issues not only cause problems such as cavities, bad breath and periodontal disease, but they can also lead to disease in the liver, kidney, heart and other areas throughout your pet's body.

Regularly brushing your pet's teeth and providing dental chew toys can help control the buildup of plaque. Consult your veterinarian to get more information about how to care for your dog or cat's teeth in between veterinary appointments.

During dental procedures, cats and dogs often struggle or bite because they are unable to understand what is going on. We use anesthesia to put less stress on pets and to safely examine their mouths.

Dental surgery may be necessary for dental health issues such as cracked or broken teeth, tooth decay, severe gum disease (periodontitis), jaw fractures, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders, luxation or dysplasia.