Dental Care

Your pet needs professional dental care on a routine basis, same as you. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked until after it becomes a problem. Regular cleanings can save them a lot of pain and health issues later in life. Our dedicated dental suite is equipped for 3D full-skull digital imaging, cleanings, extractions, and specialty care.

Hands of a veterinarian checking the health of a gray dog's teeth in an exam room

Do dogs and cats really need dental cleaning?

Dental care is a crucial part of your dog or cat’s wellness care, because without it, your pet is likely to develop oral diseases like periodontal disease or gingivitis. Over time, a buildup of plaque and tartar develops on your pet’s teeth and under their gums, leading to pain, inflammation, tooth decay, infection, and bone loss. Plaque and bacteria can then enter the bloodstream, reaching other organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys.

With a combination of proper at-home and professional teeth cleanings, you can prevent dental disease in your pets altogether.

How is a dental cleaning done on a dog or cat?

A pet dental begins with a preliminary exam and review of bloodwork to ensure that your pet is healthy enough to undergo the procedure. This is typically completed the day before. On the day of your procedure, you will drop off your pet first thing in the morning and we will begin to prep them with a pre-anesthetic and IV catheter, allowing us to give them fluids and support them throughout the procedure.

Once prepped, your pet will be put under anesthesia and intubated (allowing them to breathe). They will then be transported to our radiology room where we will get a 360° 3D visual of their entire skull, allowing us to see the teeth and any damage below the gumline, as well as any other potential issues like tumors, or abnormalities with the nasal cavity. This imaging is completed in less than 18 seconds on our CT machine, minimizing patient time under anesthesia, as well as all associated risks and additional costs.

We will then move your pet to our dedicated dental suite where their teeth will be scaled and polished, removing tiny scratches in the enamel that not only leaves them smooth and sparkly, but helps prevent future buildup of plaque and tartar. The doctor will review the images and inspect your pet’s teeth, looking for cavities, fractures, or other issues. If extractions of any teeth are required, those will be performed at this time.

Once the procedure is complete, we’ll wake your pet up and give them any required pain meds, based on the extent of the dental work performed. They will stay with us and be monitored by our veterinary staff until they are completely recovered from the anesthesia. This is pet-specific, and can take several hours. We will contact you post-surgery to let you know how everything went, and then again when your fur-baby is ready to go home!

A cat laying in the concrete in the sun yawns

Benefits of Dog & Cat Teeth Cleaning

  • Fresh breath — more kissable!

  • A healthier pet — reduced risk for development of secondary problems including heart, liver, and kidney disease.

  • More and better playtime — a painful mouth can negatively affect your pet’s personality.

  • Long-run savings — by investing in dental care, you can help avoid costly treatments in the future.

Pet Dental Questions

You might be wondering…

Cleaning frequency is pet specific and will vary based on diet, brushing habits, breed, and more. Small dogs and cats often require annual cleanings, while some larger dogs might only need one every two or three years.

Typical signs that your pet might need a dental cleaning could include bad breath, visible tartar on the teeth, bleeding gums, or any sign of oral pain such as inability to chew, dropping food, or pawing at their mouth. We will check the health of your pet’s teeth at every wellness appointment and be able to alert you to potential issues before they become severe.

Ideally, you should brush your pet’s teeth every day, just like your own! Regular brushing is crucial to reducing the risk of your pet developing dangerous and costly dental disease, and will likely result in less frequent veterinary dental cleanings being needed. It’s important to only ever use dog or cat specific toothpaste. Human toothpaste is not meant to be swallowed, and can be toxic to pets.

Yes, they do! While things like brushing and chewing can reduce the amount of tartar and plaque buildup, it doesn’t completely eliminate it, or the harmful bacteria that lives in your pet’s mouth. Just as people who regularly brush their teeth do, your pet will still need dental cleanings periodically. We will thoroughly clean your pet’s teeth and gums, and check for cavities, fractures, and other dental issues.

Unfortunately not. Not only does anesthesia help keep our doctors and technicians safe while working close-up in your pet’s mouth, it keeps your pet safe as well. Even the calmest of pets will get squirmy and fearful with teeth cleaning instruments in their mouth. Any movement while these instruments are in operation, no matter how small, could cause serious injury. A proper dental cleaning also requires cleaning under the gum line, which would be painful for your pet if they were awake. Your pet will also need to be asleep in the event that any extractions or other surgical procedures are required based on what is found during the 3D imaging scan of their head.

A full dental procedure can take anywhere from one to four hours, depending on the complexity of the cleaning required, whether any teeth need to be extracted, or if any other dental issues are found. You will drop your pet off in the morning just as you would for a surgical procedure, and be able to pick them up later the same day after they’ve recovered from the anesthesia.

There are many reasons why we may advise you that your pet should have a tooth (or teeth) extracted. They could be suffering from an infection, or tooth decay, often below the gum line and not entirely visible or symptomatic to you yet. A tooth also could have broken from chewing on a hard object, or may be crowded by retained baby teeth or misalignment. Periodontal disease is commonly seen in pets and can damage nerves and other structures under the teeth. An extraction may alleviate this pain. Our veterinarians will only recommend extractions if they are in your pet’s best interest.

Bad breath is a telltale sign of dental disease, and a thorough cleaning usually eliminates this. However, there can be other causes of bad breath as well, so if the problem persists, ask us about other possible treatments for your pet.

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Modern Pet Care

With all new, top-of-the-line equipment and a gorgeous new facility, we’re modernizing the entire pet care experience. Our hybrid primary-and-emergency care model eliminates day-to-ER transfers, reducing stress on both pets and owners, while also allowing for consistency in treatment planning and standard of care.