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Frequently Asked Questions

Bad breath (also called halitosis), drooling, pawing at the mouth, difficulty chewing, loose or missing teeth are all common signs that a pet is experiencing dental pain. Fractured teeth and oral masses can lead to bleeding from the mouth. Changes in behavior or eating habits can occur, but many pets will continue to eat normally even with severe dental conditions, so eating normally should not be considered proof that an animal does not have dental pain.

An annual anesthetized dental examinations and professional dental cleaning procedures are recommended for most healthy, adult pets. Professional dental cleaning helps to prevent and slow the progression of periodontal disease, and, importantly, regular anesthetized exams allow problems to be noticed and addressed early. A complete evaluation of the mouth and teeth is not possible in an awake dog, as it is not possible to thoroughly evaluate the underside of the tongue, tonsils, back of the throat, back side of the teeth in even the most well-behaved dog. A thorough and complete dental and oral health examination also includes full mouth dental radiographs and periodontal probing of all teeth. Dental radiographs are critical as studies have shown that 41% of clinically significant dental lesions in cats and 27% in dogs can be missed without radiographs, even when examined by board certified veterinary dentists. Early diagnosis can improve the treatment options and outcomes of a variety of dental and oral diseases including fractured teeth and oral cancers.

Tooth brushing is the gold standard of dental home care for dogs and cats. Think about it, if there was a better option, that’s what we’d do for ourselves! Tooth brushing can be intimidating for many pet owners. Regular teeth brushing is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to reduce plaque and tartar buildup and reduce the risk of developing severe periodontal disease. As a bonus, regular teeth brushing will allow you to keep an eye on your pet’s mouth and notice any concerns or changes early. Once daily tooth brushing with a soft or extra-soft bristled “human” toothbrush and a pet-safe toothpaste is recommended. Child and infant-sized toothbrushes are great for small dogs and cats.

There are also a wide variety of veterinary products on the market for plaque reduction, including chews, sprays, wipes and water additives. Products that have been given the “VOHC Seal of Approval” have been shown to have a statistically significant benefit. A full list of these products and more information about the Veterinary Oral Health Council is available on their website: https://vohc.org/accepted-products/

Many clients worry about putting their pet under general anesthesia, especially if they have underlying health concerns such as heart or kidney disease, or if they’ve had trouble under anesthesia in the past. This is totally understandable and there will always be a small amount of risk with anesthesia, but much of the risk can be mitigated when anesthesia is performed by knowledgeable professionals. At Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery, we always perform preoperative bloodwork and thorough full-body exams on every patient so that we can identify any underlying health concerns ahead of time and plan for them. Patients with known underlying conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, seizures or diabetes should always follow up with their cardiologist or internal medicine specialist prior to the procedure to make sure that they are a good candidate for anesthesia.

Here at Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery, we also have the option of having a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist perform and monitor your pet’s anesthesia – either in person or virtually in conjunction with our knowledgeable and experienced staff. This is a wonderful option for pets with complicated health histories or anyone who wants peace of mind that their pet’s anesthesia is being performed by a specialist.

A board-certified veterinary dentist™ is a veterinarian who has undertaken additional training overseen by the American Veterinary Dental College® to specialize in veterinary dentistry. This includes a minimum of 3 years of intensive residency training, as well as a practical and written exam. When someone has the letters “DAVDC” after their name, it stands for “Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College” and they are board- certified. The AVDC® was established in 1988 and is one of 22 AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizations. The primary objectives of AVDC® are to determine the standards required for recognition of board-certified veterinary dentists and to conduct the credentials review and examination procedures necessary to identify veterinarians who have reached the specialist veterinary dentist standard and earned the status of Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist™.

Your pet’s primary veterinarian helps assess their overall health, including routine dental care such as oral exams, preventive treatment, professional cleanings, and ongoing monitoring.

Some pets, however, require a higher level of dental expertise. A Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist® has advanced training in diagnosing and treating complex conditions affecting the teeth, gums, mouth, and jaws.

At Animal Dental Care, we provide advanced diagnostics and treatment for conditions that may be difficult to identify or manage during routine dental procedures, including:

  • Advanced dental imaging including cone beam CT and full mouth dental radiographs to detect disease below the gumline and within tooth roots and jawbone
  • Complex oral surgery and extractions
  • Treatment of fractured, diseased, or abnormal teeth
  • Management of oral masses and other oral conditions
  • Treatment of developmental and jaw abnormalities
  • Advanced periodontal disease care
  • Specialized anesthesia and pain management
  • Comprehensive treatment planning for complex cases

Seeing a Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist does not replace your primary veterinarian. We work together as part of your pet’s healthcare team, with your veterinarian overseeing overall wellness while we provide specialized dental expertise when advanced care is needed. When your pet’s dental needs extend beyond routine care, a Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist provides the specialized expertise and advanced treatment necessary to achieve the best possible outcome.

A dental consultation is a physical examination with emphasis on the teeth and oral cavity by one of our veterinarians. The consultation also includes a full body physical examination to look for problems that could lead to a higher anesthetic risk. This consultation establishes a client/patient/veterinarian relationship with the veterinarian to diagnose and treat medical conditions and prescribe medications. During this consultation, your pet will receive a physical examination, your pet’s medical records and medical history will be discussed, a detailed treatment plan may be provided if relevant, and any of your questions will be answered. The cost of this appointment is $175.

At Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery, we prefer the term COHAT over “dental cleaning”. COHAT stands for Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment & Treatment. This is because anesthetized procedures with us are far more than dental cleanings. All procedures include a comprehensive oral examination including periodontal probing of all teeth, evaluation of the tongue, back of the throat, hard and soft palates and lips. Diagnostic imaging, including cone-beam computed tomography (CT) and full-mouth intraoral dental radiographs are taken and assessed by our veterinarians, and finally the teeth are scaled and polished. Cleaning the teeth is important for periodontal health, but a thorough evaluation of the teeth and oral cavity is important for assessing the overall health of the patient.

We do not work directly with pet insurance companies, but we see patients who are insured all the time. After the final bill is paid in full, we can provide an itemized invoice and detailed medical records via email so that a claim can be filed. If the insurance company needs any explanation related to the invoice or medical records, we are happy to chat with them on your behalf. Pet insurance is an excellent way to reduce the costs associated with veterinary care. Pet insurance companies vary greatly on what they do and do not cover, but most will cover trauma-related concerns such as broken teeth and fractured jaws.

Yes. We do not offer payment plans directly; however, we do work with Care Credit and Scratch Pay to provide payment plan options. Care Credit is a credit card used for medical expenses both for people and pets. We offer 6 and 12-month no-interest options, which means from the day your card is charged, you will have 6 or 12 months to pay the total amount off in full. This option has steep interest rates when not paid in full by the scheduled time frame. The other payment plan option is Scratch Pay. Scratch Pay provides simple payment plans for medical financing. Your first payment will be due on the day of the procedure, and your remaining four payments are due every two weeks after that until the bill is paid off. There is no interest and no hard credit checks associated with this option.