Dental health is an important part of your pet’s overall well-being. In fact, most dogs and cats show signs of dental disease by the age of three. Left untreated, dental disease can lead to pain, infection, tooth loss, difficulty eating, and may even affect other organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Regular dental examinations, professional cleanings, and appropriate at-home dental care help prevent disease and keep your pet comfortable and healthy. During wellness visits, we evaluate your pet’s oral health and discuss recommendations based on their age, breed, and individual needs. Whether your pet needs preventive care, a professional dental cleaning, or treatment for advanced dental disease, our goal is to protect their long-term health and quality of life through personalized, comprehensive dental care.
What a Professional Dental Procedure Includes
- Pre-anesthetic examination and bloodwork to help evaluate your pet’s overall health before anesthesia.
- General anesthesia with continuous monitoring. A thorough cleaning and examination cannot be performed while a pet is awake. A dedicated team member monitors your pet’s heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and temperature throughout the entire procedure and all the way through recovery.
- Full-mouth dental radiographs. A significant portion of dental disease occurs below the gumline, where it cannot be seen. Dental X-rays allow us to identify root infections, bone loss, and resorptive lesions.
- Scaling and polishing above and below the gumline, with each tooth probed and charted.
- Treatment of diseased teeth, including extractions when necessary, performed with local nerve blocks and followed by appropriate pain management at home.
- An at-home care plan suited to your pet, which may include tooth brushing, dental chews or diets, and a recommended schedule for follow-up.
Signs Your Pet May Need Dental Care
- Bad breath, yellow or brown tartar, or red and bleeding gums
- Dropping food, chewing on one side, pawing at the mouth, or drooling
- Loose, broken, or discolored teeth, or swelling beneath an eye
- Reduced grooming or sensitivity around the face in cats
Frequently Asked Questions
Is anesthesia appropriate for my older dog or cat?
For many senior pets, dental care under anesthesia remains an option. Before recommending a procedure, we perform a careful examination and appropriate diagnostics, including bloodwork, to evaluate your pet’s overall health. Each anesthetic plan is tailored to the individual patient, intravenous fluids are provided, and your pet is monitored continuously throughout the procedure and recovery, so that the procedure is performed as safely as possible. For many older pets, untreated dental disease poses a greater risk to their health than a carefully planned dental procedure.
What about anesthesia-free dental cleanings?
Anesthesia-free dental cleanings address only the visible surface of the teeth and can create a false sense of oral health. Without anesthesia, dental X-rays and a complete examination are not possible, which means painful diseased teeth, infections, and other problems may remain undiagnosed and untreated. Professional dental procedures performed under anesthesia allow us to fully evaluate, clean, and treat your pet’s mouth, helping ensure lasting comfort and health.
How much does a dental procedure cost?
The cost of a dental procedure depends on your pet’s size, the stage of dental disease, and whether extractions or other treatment are needed. We provide a written estimate after examining your pet.
How often should my pet have a professional cleaning?
Many dogs and cats benefit from a professional cleaning every one to two years. Small-breed dogs and cats with resorptive disease often need them more frequently. Consistent at-home care can help extend the time between procedures.
