Proper dental care is proven to extend your pet’s life, as well as elevate their quality of life.  Thorough inspection of the teeth and gums is one of the most important aspects of a pet’s routine examination.  Periodontal disease, if left untreated, can lead to pain, loss of appetite, excessive salivation, and chronic oral infections which can spread harmful bacteria to other parts of the body, including the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and kidneys.  Therefore, preventing periodontal disease is among our top priorities.

The doctor may suggest certain at-home dental care to improve your pet’s dental health.  However, once a certain amount of dental plaque or gingivitis is observed by the doctor, then a prophylactic dental cleaning will be recommended and discussed.  This procedure will require a general anesthesia where the pet is monitored the entire time, just the same as any other surgical procedure.  See the “Surgery” tab for further information regarding anesthetic procedures.

Dental Radiography – Only about one third of a tooth is actually visible with the unaided eye.  Dental imaging helps the doctor to uncover hidden dental problem areas that lie above the gum line in our patients.  This can include decay between teeth, bone infections, gum disease, abscesses or cysts, developmental abnormalities, and tumors that cannot be detected with only a visual examination of the external surfaces.  Dental radiography is a service that is optional (but highly recommended) for all patients undergoing a prophylactic dental cleaning/procedure.  Our dental radiography unit is fully digital, which means less time under anesthesia is required to take those x-rays.  On the scheduled day of the procedure at the time of drop-off, a client service representative is prepared to thoroughly discuss this option with you.