Dental disease signs

Common signs of dental disease include bad breath—no, doggy breath is not normal!— and tartar accumulation. Tartar is a combination of food, saliva, and bacteria that attach to the tooth surface. Once tartar forms, it can’t be brushed away, and a professional dental cleaning is required for removal. Left untreated, bacteria-laden tartar accumulation leads to infection of the gums, teeth, and surrounding tissues.

Additional signs of dental disease include:

  • Discolored Teeth
  • Loose teeth
  • Drooling
  • Lethargy

  • Eating less
  • Mouth or facial pain
  • Gum recession
  • Weight loss

  • Discolored Teeth
  • Loose teeth
  • Drooling
  • Lethargy
  • Eating less
  • Mouth or facial pain
  • Gum recession
  • Weight loss

What Can I Expect…

Before A Cleaning

During your pet’s routine wellness appointment, we will perform an oral exam to evaluate their oral health. If our veterinarian has determined that your pet would benefit from a professional dental cleaning, we will provide you with an estimate, perform the appropriate pre-anesthetic bloodwork, and schedule the procedure. If you schedule your pet’s dental cleaning within 30 days of our recommendation, we will apply a 10% discount to all services related to the dental cleaning. +

During A Cleaning

Professional dental cleanings require anesthesia, to minimize stress for your pet, and to allow our team to perform a thorough cleaning. During your pet’s preanesthetic exam, we will perform blood testing to ensure your pet is a good anesthetic candidate.

During your pet’s dental cleaning, the following steps will be performed to restore their oral health:
  • Thorough oral exam, including probing and gingival pocket depth measurement
  • Hand and ultrasonic scaling, to remove tartar
  • Subgingival curettage, to remove tartar below the gum line
  • Tooth polishing
  • Fluoride treatment
  • Accurate charting of all significant findings
If a problem area is detected, digital dental X-rays will be taken to determine the best course of action to address the issue. +

After A Cleaning

When your pet is discharged, you will receive detailed instructions for their aftercare, as well as before and after photos and copies of any dental X-rays that were taken. We will schedule a courtesy recheck if your pet requires any extractions. We will also recommend the best ways to keep your pet’s smile healthy after their procedure. 
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