Dental Services

Importance of Dental Care – Did you know that 70% of pets by the age of 3 have signs of dental disease? Dental care is often one of the most overlooked areas of health in our patients! With 2/3 of the tooth hidden below the gum line, visible dental plaque is just the tip of the iceberg in regards to what could be happening in your pet’s mouth. Plaque buildup not only leads to bad breath and eventual gum disease, but it also can lead to severe difficulty eating, bone loss, and potentially internal organ damage (heart, liver, kidneys)!

What we do:

Dental cleanings are similar to deep cleanings in humans and are performed under general anesthesia for dogs and cats as we unfortunately can’t simply ask our pets to hold still and say “ahh!” We all know people with fears of the dentist that require at least some anxiety relief for visits; just imagine what would go through a dog or cat’s mind if they experienced the same thing awake – it’d be scary!

Each dental we perform will include a full mouth local anesthetic block to help significantly decrease discomfort as well as decrease the amount of anesthetic needed for your pet! We use our ultrasonic scaler to clean debris away from your pet’s teeth and out from under the gumline. Each tooth is evaluated for fractures, discoloration, and pocketing by Dr. Begemann and an assessment for any possible needed extractions will be made. In the event an unexpected surgical extraction is needed (tooth requiring drill to split and remove), we will contact you to alert you while completing your pet’s evaluation. We currently do not offer dental radiography, however, this is a highly recommended diagnostic tool to further investigate overall dental health. If you wish to have this available, we can refer you to a local colleague.

We understand the anxiety many people have about anesthesia for their pets, whether it’s the risk of the unknown or negative experiences with unexpected complications in previous pets. For these reasons, we require pre-anesthesia blood work for all pets prior to surgical procedures to help minimize anesthetic risk, identify pre-existing conditions, and individually tailor medications and anesthesia to each pet. Anesthesia is not without inherent risks, even with the healthiest of patients and we take each case very seriously. Your pet is constantly evaluated with ECG, SPO2 and blood pressure monitoring by staff throughout the procedure while staying safe and warm with the use of an IV fluid warmer and gentle heating pad.

Oral care at home

What can be done to help your pet keep healthy teeth at home? The ideal recommendation from veterinary dentists is to brush your dog/cat’s teeth every day. The reality is, most people don’t realize that similar to us, you need to brush at least once a day to notice any true benefit to your pets’ teeth. We can help you acclimate your dog or cat to at home oral care with training recommendations, access to tasty pet-safe toothpaste options, as well as several great options for toothbrushes.

If brushing isn’t doesn’t seem like a great option for your pet, dental care doesn’t end there! Water additives and sprays are available for our pets, which can be easier than brushing in most situations and help prevent bacterial biofilms from setting up shop in your pet’s mouth. Dental treats are available that have enzymes to help prevent nasty bacterial biofilms from creating plaque and break existing plaque off tooth surfaces. Ask us for our favorite at-home options! As with brushing, being consistent with dental treats and chews is essential to help keep teeth happy and healthy! Specially formulated dental diets are also available for both cats and dogs that promote chewing to break off plaque and keep tartar accumulation to a minimum.

Unfortunately, at home dental care options won’t be effective if dental disease has already started to affect your pet’s oral health. If you notice bad breath, discolored teeth, blood noted on toys after play, and lack of interest in food or treats, call us to schedule a free dental consult to evaluate what the best options are to keep your furry family member’s mouth healthy! 405-513-5905