Center for Dental Excellence

Healthy Teeth Equals 2-4 Extra Healthy Years!

Oral Health is Critical

A ten-year prospective university study found that pets with teeth cleaned yearly under anesthesia, whether tartar was visible or not, lived 2-4 years longer than the group with  no tooth care, whether they needed it or not.  Several hundred cats and dogs were included in the study.  The researchers also found that age-related diseases of deterioration, like arthritis, delayed onset by 2-4 years in the dental treatment group as compared to the non-treated group.  Tooth care matters!

Did you know?

A person who flosses their teeth daily adds six years to their statistically expected lifespan.

A “Dental” is a Medical Procedure with a Hygienic Component

FAQ

Question:  ”Why so much money?  My teeth get cleaned for $65.”

Answer:  Partly, the general anesthesia required for proper and safe cleaning of pet’s teeth adds to the cost of the procedure.  But mostly, your pet’s “dental” is the same as your dentist’s visit in which the dentist evaluates and diagnoses your teeth, prescribes additional tests like dental radiographs (X-Rays), and then your dentist reschedules you for procedures such as periodontal packing, gingivectomy, root canals, crowns, and many, many other procedures.

We perform this work for your pet all in the same day so your pet does not undergo any unnecessary additional general anesthesia! 

Question: “Will you, the Doctor, be performing the procedure?” 

Answer: Yes. The doctor and nurses work as a team to evaluate, sedate, anesthetize, and monitor your pet.  The technicians are highly trained to scale, polish, X-ray and alert the doctor to significant abnormalities.  Then your veterinarian performs a tooth-by-tooth thorough oral evaluation and designs a treatment plan.

Question: Do I have to give permission for “anything that comes up,” before the examination?

Answer: No!  You must be available by phone or text to immediately respond so the Doc can inform you of the problems, give you the options for treatment and cure, and obtain your permission for the procedures.  Typical treatments include:

Common Dental Treatments During a “Dental”

• Periodontal Packing, filling pockets in the gums to reattach the gums to the teeth (Clindoral)
• Gingivectomy, preferably with the Laser to decrease pain and bleeding
• Tumor removals, also great to do with the Laser
• Root Planing
• Unfortunately, Exodontia (fancy word for surgical tooth extractions) are routinely performed on veterinary patients because their periodontal disease is often so advanced when it is identified.

All Pet Care Adds Texting!

We’ve added text messaging capability to give you another way to receive communication and pictures from us. Let us know if you prefer to be contacted via text messaging.

What Happens During a Professional Dental Cleaning?

Watch Doc Springer’s Cat Have a Dental Day at All Pet Care Hospital!

Our own Doc Springer’s 16-year-old Seal-Point Himalayan cat had his teeth cleaned under anesthesia!  

Before Dental Care: Physical, Pre-op Lab Work, Pre-op EKG, IV Fluids

After the patient has been evaluated and the history assessed, pre-anesthetic medications are individually calculated and tailored for each individual. Around 1/2 hour after the pre-anesthetic medications are administered, an IV catheter is placed, and fluids are administered as anesthesia is induced. IV fluids greatly improve the safety of anesthesia, helping to maintain blood pressure, kidney function, and prevent post-operative dehydration. In addition, if there were a problem, the IV line allows for rapid treatment. All patients anesthetized at Animal Dental Care receive IV fluids.

Dental Question

“Doc, I need the teeth done no matter what, so how will the pre-op EKG or the pre-op blood tests change anything?

This is a natural question…

“Abnormalities on the EKG could show us if there is a heart problem that we need to diagnose and medicate before anesthesia.  Pre-op blood test abnormalities tell us if there is diabetes mellitus we need to stabilize, or kidney disease or other diseases.  Once we know about these challenges to your pet’s health, we can adjust intravenous fluids, types of anesthesia, prolong hospitalization and intensify our post-op monitoring and recheck schedule accordingly,” says Doc Springer.

Here’s Buster’s starting his big day of professional dental cleaning:

During Dental Cleaning

As soon as anesthesia is induced, a breathing tube is placed and the patient is started on gas to maintain the anesthesia. Monitoring equipment, including pulse oximetry (oxygenation monitor) and blood pressure are then placed on the patient, the eyes are lubricated to prevent damage, and a warming water blanket is placed. Anesthetic monitoring is constant during the procedure. We are always within a few feet of every anesthetized patient. The patient’s face and eyes are always covered with a towel to prevent contamination, and gauze is placed in the back of the mouth to catch debris and water. All patients lay on and are covered by their personal clean towels.

Professional Dental Cleaning

After the teeth are thoroughly cleaned, rinsed, polished, and treated with fluoride, we examine every part of the patient’s mouth and any abnormalities are noted on the dental chart. Any recommended treatment is explained to the pet parent, along with the costs for that treatment. In most cases, any required treatment can be performed at the same time as the cleaning.

Post-Anesthesia Recovery

All patients are closely monitored as they wake up, with most patients standing up within a few minutes of completing the procedure. Pain management includes medications before, during, and after the procedure, as well as local nerve blocks as indicated. Almost all patients go home the same night.

Guidance for Recovery at Home and Future Periodontal Disease Prevention

At discharge, all instructions are written out and fully explained. Typically several pictures of your pet’s procedure are taken and printed out for your reference. Most patients are scheduled for a re-check exam as appropriate. There is no charge for the initial re-check exam.

We also take the time to demonstrate your home care options on your own pet. At any time before or after your pet’s care you are welcome to call 727-442-9111 or E-mail at AllPetCare@gmail.com any questions you might have.

Finally, we will advise you of when your pet should be checked again, and of any required follow-up. We will then call to remind you when any further care might be required.

References

Download All Pet Care Hospital Dental Planning Guide (1.5 pages.)

Go to our forms page for  Authorization for Pet Surgical and Dental Admission

Official Clindoral product information

Dr. Jan Bellows, AVDC, AVBP, Veterinary Dental Specialist with a website full of pictures and explanations! (Dr. Bellows is a colleague of Doc Truli’s. They have worked together on many dental patients.)Check the Dental Success Stories Category for pictures, X-rays, and amazing, inspirational and informative stories.

All Pet Care Hospital

1453 Sunset Point Road

Clearwater, Florida

(727) 442-9111

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