Dental Services
We understand the significance of maintaining your pet’s dental health. Just like humans, pets also require regular dental care to ensure their overall well-being. Dental hygiene is an essential component of their healthcare routine, impacting their comfort, health, and longevity. Failure to address your pet’s dental health can lead to severe consequences, including:
- Plaque and tartar build up: Without proper dental care, plaque and tartar accumulate on your pet’s teeth, leading to gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath.
- Periodontal Disease: Neglected dental health can progress to periodontal disease, causing pain, inflammation, and potential tooth loss. This condition can also affect vital organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys due to bacteria entering the bloodstream.
- Discomfort and Pain: Pets may suffer silently from dental issues, leading to discomfort, difficulty eating, and reluctance to play or interact.
Services Provided
We are committed to providing top-notch dental care for your furry companions. Our range of dental services includes:
- Professional Dental Examinations: Thorough dental check-ups to assess your pet’s oral health status.
- Teeth Cleaning (Dental Prophylaxis): Removal of plaque and tartar buildup through professional cleaning procedures under anesthesia.
- Dental X-rays: We utilize digital dental x-ray to identify underlying dental issues such as hidden decay or infections. We perform full-mouth x-rays on all pets during their dental prophylaxis to ensure that we do not miss anything.
- Tooth Extractions and Oral Surgeries: When necessary, our skilled veterinarians perform extractions or other oral surgeries to alleviate pain and restore oral health.
- Educational Resources: We offer guidance on at-home dental care routines and recommend products for maintaining your pet’s oral hygiene between visits.
- Referral to Specialists: If your pet has more advanced dental disease or problems and needs to be seen by a dental specialist, we have access to several specialist in the Twin Cities area who can help.
What You Can Expect
- Pre-Anesthetic Assessment: To ensure your pet’s safety during the dental procedure, our veterinary team will conduct a pre-anesthetic assessment. This includes reviewing your pet’s medical history, performing a physical examination, and running blood tests to assess their overall health and any potential risks associated with anesthesia.
- Dental Examination: While pets may not always allow for a detailed inspection of their mouths during routine check-ups, our team recognizes the importance of a close examination. Therefore, under anesthesia, we can carefully assess your pet’s teeth, gums, and oral cavity without causing stress or discomfort.
- Unexpected Findings and Dental X-rays
- Identifying Hidden Issues: Despite a preliminary examination, certain dental problems might remain hidden until your pet is under anesthesia. Issues like hidden decay, fractures, or advanced periodontal disease may become apparent only after a more thorough evaluation.
- Diagnostic Dental X-rays: To ensure a comprehensive assessment, we conduct dental X-rays on all patients. These X-rays help reveal underlying issues beneath the gum line, enabling us to identify problems that are not visible during a standard examination.
- Estimating Costs and Unforeseen Procedures
- Cost Estimates: We strive to provide accurate cost estimates based on the initial assessment. However, due to the possibility of unexpected findings, such as the need for additional extractions or treatments discovered during the procedure, the final cost may vary.
- Communication with Pet Owners: We prioritize transparent communication with pet owners. If unforeseen issues are discovered during the dental procedure, we will promptly inform you, explain the necessary procedures, and provide updated cost estimates before proceeding. We do ask that you provide with us phone number the day of the procedure so that we can contact you with any additional questions and information should we find something unexpected.