During routine wellness visits, we will conduct a dental examination. Exams can let us know if your pet already has dental disease, and if so, how severe it is. After the examination, we will develop a treatment plan or recommend further testing. The plan can include professional cleanings or dental radiography.
Our highly trained technicians will use an ultrasonic scaler during your pet's dental cleaning. It removes plaque and tartar from the teeth, helping treat or prevent dental disease. After the scaler is used, the teeth are polished to get any remaining tartar off the teeth. We will then use a rinse and plaque-preventative to finish off the cleaning. If the dental disease is too advanced to be fixed by cleaning, we might recommend oral surgery to alleviate pain and prevent further infection.
Dental cleanings are typically performed under anesthesia for the safety of our staff and the comfort of your pet.
Dental radiography allows us to see your pet's teeth and gums uniquely. We will always perform radiographs of the pet's entire mouth as part of the dental to assess what is going on under the gum line. The majority of dental disease is located below the gum line, so radiographs allow us to get a better idea of how severe the dental disease is. Depending on the results of the radiograph, we might recommend deep cleaning or extraction.
Ideally, you will be able to brush your pet's teeth daily to prevent or combat dental disease. The majority of dental care happens at home, so we want to provide you with all of the resources you need to be successful. We understand that many pets will not tolerate having their teeth brushed at home, so we can recommend chews, rinses, and toys to help break down tartar and clean up the teeth.
Phone: 720-769-8754