08/21/2026
🦷 Carl’s dental transformation! 🦷
Carl is one of our regular dental patients, and if you’ve ever wondered what actually happens during a professional pet dental, here’s your little behind-the-scenes look!
First, we scale the teeth to remove plaque and tartar buildup, including the stuff hiding along and just below the gumline where a toothbrush simply can’t reach. This is an important step because periodontal disease starts with bacteria and plaque irritating the gums.
Once the teeth are nice and clean, we polish them. Think of polishing as smoothing everything back out after scaling, helping remove microscopic scratches and making it harder for plaque to stick right back onto the teeth.
Then we finish with either fluoride or Sanos dental sealant, depending on what’s appropriate for the patient. Sanos is a dental sealant that helps create a protective barrier along the gumline and can help slow plaque and tartar accumulation.
And Carl clearly understood the assignment. 😎🦷
But professional dentals aren’t just about having a pretty smile!
Your pet’s mouth is connected to the rest of their body. Chronic periodontal disease means a constant source of bacteria and inflammation in the mouth. As periodontal disease progresses, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and contribute to inflammation and damage elsewhere in the body. There are documented associations between periodontal disease and problems involving organs such as the heart, kidneys, and liver.
There is also evidence linking periodontal disease with cardiovascular disease, and some veterinary patients have shown improvement in cardiac health after significant dental disease was treated. While a dental isn’t a guaranteed “cure” for heart disease, treating severe oral inflammation can remove an important source of chronic bacterial exposure and inflammation.
That’s why we take dental health seriously. A healthy mouth is part of a healthy pet. ❤️
And remember: pets are REALLY good at hiding dental pain. They may still eat, play, and act completely normal even when their mouths are uncomfortable. Bad breath isn’t just “dog breath,” either. It can be one of the first signs that something is going on.
Regular dental exams and professional cleanings, combined with at-home dental care, can make a huge difference in keeping those tails wagging for years to come.
Just look at Carl’s before & after. 👀
Same dog. Much happier mouth. 🦷✨
