Pet Dentistry

Dental health is a very important part of your pet’s overall health, and dental problems can cause, or be caused by, other health problems. Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian to check for early signs of a problem and to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.

A dental cleaning visit will include a thorough dental examination, teeth cleaning to remove the tartar and periodontal disease-causing plaque. Also, the teeth are polished and get fluoride. This is done while your dog is under general anesthesia. Once anesthetized, your veterinarian with the help of veterinary technicians will thoroughly examine the mouth, noting abnormalities in the medical record.

Dental X-rays (radiographs) are images of your pets’ teeth that your veterinarian uses to evaluate your pet’s oral health. These X-rays are used with low levels of radiation to capture images of the interior of your pets’ teeth and gums. This can help your dentist to identify problems, like cavities, tooth decay, and impacted teeth. Dental X-rays may seem complex, but they’re actually very common tools that are just as important as your teeth cleanings.

A general anesthetic is required to perform these procedures. After your pet is anesthetized, we will clean your pet’s teeth then polish. We will then examine the teeth and gum tissue using a dental probe. This will determine if further treatment is indicated. Extraction (pulling) of diseased teeth may be necessary if there is a loss of normal attachment to the bone due to advanced periodontal disease.

Our veterinarians are experienced in tooth extraction. Comfort and quick healing are a priority; your pet will receive in-clinic pain control and will go home with pain medication as well. Your veterinarian will guide you on the use of antibiotics in dentistry; with infection, it is imperative to have antibiotic treatment.

This is performed under general anesthesia for a safe and thorough procedure. Whenever anesthesia is used, we take many steps to assure the safest possible procedure. Your pet’s teeth are cleaned of plaque and calculus, and the tooth enamel is polished, followed by a fluoride treatment to further protect the teeth and strengthen enamel.