10/14/2026
What goes into performing a comprehensive dental exam and cleaning on your pet?
A LOT!!
Let's go behind the scenes: A story in 8 parts!
1) First, we perform a physical exam and comprehensive blood screening to check for heart murmurs, lung capacity, and organ function prior to scheduling your pet's dental visit.
2) Your pet's treatment and anesthesia plan is crafted for his or her specific weight, age, and dental score. We grade dental changes 1-4 based on factors like gum swelling/disease, tartar, and broken or obviously mobile teeth. This plan is presented to clients with detailed explanation and approval, and we answer any questions before scheduling.
3) On the day of your pet's procedure, our licensed technicians prepare a warmed, padded bed and set up for IV catheterization, while the doctor reviews the plan and prepares to administer human-grade inhaled anesthesia plus oxygen.This is delivered via a sterile tube in the trachea (windpipe) that protects your pet's lungs from bacteria during the cleaning.
4) Our licensed technician monitors your pet’s breathing, heart rate, oxygen and CO2 levels from the moment they are anesthetized until they're fully awake, while another licensed technician takes x rays for the doctor to review.
5) *Important Note* Dental X rays are where hidden problems are revealed, such as cracks that invade the tender pulp, tooth root abscesses, or other painful lesions. Since our patents can't tell us where it hurts, taking Xrays is critical for keeping your pet's mouth pain free and healthy.
6) Doctor completes the oral exam and performs needed extractions and gum surgery to correct defects and speed healing. A second set of x rays confirms removal of any tooth or root fragments.
7) Our licensed technician then cleans and polishes each tooth to remove dental tartar (which is actually bacteria and debris, yuck!) on the tooth surface and under the gum line. This makes teeth slippery again so bacteria don't adhere and gums can heal.
8) Our licensed technician then gently wakes your pet from anesthesia, staying with them and keeping them warm and relaxed until they are fully awake. Any needed pain meds are administered before they wake up. Meanwhile the doctor completes notes and calls you with updates, and a time is set for pickup and post-dental instructions.
Aftercare is relatively simple: Light meal, reduced activity until all sedatives wear off, pain meds for a few days if extractions are needed. We hear from clients that pets feel SO much better once painful teeth are removed that they seem like themselves again, jumping and running like they did when they were young.
If you have questions about your pet's dental health, call today to talk to our dedicated healthcare team. We love helping pets feel their best, and a healthy, pain-free mouth is a great way to start!
