If your pet’s breath can clear the room, it’s time to schedule a dental care appointment. Call us at (570) 784-6440 or book an appointment online.
Why Is Dental Care Important for Dogs and Cats?
Dental disease can cause pain, infection, loose teeth, and inflammation that gets worse over time. Regular dental exams and professional cat and dog teeth cleanings help us find problems earlier and treat them before they become more advanced.
Plaque can harden into tartar, and bacteria can move beneath the gumline where brushing alone cannot reach. Once periodontal disease develops, pets may have sore gums, damaged tooth-supporting structures, or painful teeth even if they continue eating normally. Good dental care is about comfort, function, and keeping your pet’s mouth healthy over the long term.
What Happens During a Professional Cat and Dog Dental Cleaning?
A professional dental cleaning lets us thoroughly examine and clean the mouth, including areas below the gumline that cannot be treated while a pet is awake.
Before the procedure, we perform a physical exam and may recommend bloodwork based on your pet’s age and health history. This helps us evaluate their overall health before anesthesia.
Once your pet is safely anesthetized, we:
- Remove surface tartar from the teeth
- Use an ultrasonic scaler to clean above and around the gumline
- Clean the crevice beneath the gumline
- Examine each tooth and the surrounding tissues
- Take full-mouth dental X-rays
- Polish the teeth to smooth the surface
- Rinse the mouth with an antibacterial solution
Anesthesia allows us to work carefully and thoroughly while your pet rests comfortably through the procedure.
What If My Pet Needs a Tooth Extraction or Dental Surgery?
If a tooth is painful, infected, severely damaged, or no longer healthy enough to remain in the mouth, we may recommend removing it.
We perform a variety of dental procedures and oral surgeries, including tooth extractions when needed. That means many dental problems can be addressed here without automatically sending you somewhere else for care.
What Should I Expect After My Pet’s Dental Procedure?
Recovery depends on whether your pet had a routine cleaning or needed additional treatment such as extractions. Your pet may be sleepy after anesthesia and may need a quieter evening at home. If teeth were removed, we’ll give you specific instructions about food, activity, medications, and home care. We’ll also explain when you can restart your pet’s normal dental routine and what changes would mean you should give us a call.
Is your pet due for a dental exam and teeth cleaning? If so, give us a call at (570) 784-6440 or book a visit online.