FAQ

Q? How do you schedule an appointment?

 

A: Click Here To Find Out How To Schedule An Appointment.

 

Q? Why should you bring your pet to Pet Dental Center?

 

A: At Pet Dental Center, we provide a full range of dental services for pets from basic oral evaluations and cleanings to advanced dentistry and oral surgery. Any pet that has not had a thorough oral evaluation and dental X-rays for 12 months is in need of dental care. Any pet that has bad breath or is suspected to have dental disease for any reason needs a thorough oral evaluation. Your regular veterinarian may refer your pet for assessment and treatment of oral disease for a variety of reasons. Common referrals include advanced periodontal disease, feline tooth resorption and stomatitis, fractured teeth, dental radiography and advanced imaging, maxillofacial trauma, oral cancer and high-risk anesthesia candidates in need of dental care.

 

Q? What should you do to prepare your pet for the appointment?

 

A: Some pets will receive assessment and treatment under anesthesia on the same day as the initial consultation. In preparation for the potential anesthesia, your pet must be fasted for at least 12 hours prior to the appointment time. Please remove any food available to your pet the evening before the appointment. Your pet may have access to fresh water at all times. Recent bloodwork is required prior to performing anesthesia and should be done within 2 months of the dental procedure.

 

Q? What should you bring with you to the appointment?

 

A: You may fill out the Registration Form ahead of time if you’d like to expedite the check in process. Please also bring all medications and medical records you may have for your pet. We will have already obtained medical records from your general care veterinarian and your pet’s specialist prior to your appointment.

 

Q? How long will your pet stay for the procedure?

 

A: In order for us to offer your pet the best care possible, we do have them stay with us for the majority of the day. Your pet will be discharged from the hospital on the day of the procedure in the afternoon or early evening (generally between 3:30 and 6:30). In the rare event that your pet needs 24-hour care, you will be referred to a local 24-hour facility that offers around-the-clock care by trained technicians and veterinarians. If your pet is high risk and needs 24-hour care post operatively, we will have this arranged ahead of time.

 

Q? How long will it take your pet to recover from the procedure?

 

A: Some slight sleepiness and decrease in appetite is common for 12-24 hours following general anesthesia. By 24-48 hours following the procedure, your pet should return to normal activity levels and appetite. If oral surgery was performed on your pet, you will need to offer a softened diet or canned food and administer oral medications for up to 2 weeks.

 

Q? What are the payment options?

 

A: Payments may be made using credit cards (MC, VISA, DISC, AMEX) or cash, checks are not accepted. For financing assistance, we offer care credit. Our Care credit program offers interest free financing for six full months. Borrowers must pay the full balance by the agreed time or face interest charges to the date of transaction. For many clients, this option provides ‘breathing room’ when veterinary expenses upset the family budget. Care Credit helps clients obtain the medical care their pet needs, at a time that it is needed most. To apply for your Care Credit account, click the “Apply Now” button in the banner below.

Commonly Asked Questions

Does My Pet Need A Dental Cleaning?

Dental cleanings should be recommended based on each individual pet’s level of plaque and calculus build up and gingivitis. For some pets, cleanings may be necessary every 6 months, for others it could be every couple of years. More importantly, pets need to have routine oral evaluations with dental probing and full mouth dental radiographs no less than every 2 years and in some pets every 6 months. This includes pets who may have minimal plaque, calculus or gingivitis. It must be understood that clean teeth are not always healthy and therefore could be causing you pet pain or discomfort.

My Dog Has Bad Breath.

Bad breath is the number one symptom of advanced dental disease in pets. In most cases, bad breath in pets originates from disease causing bacteria. When pathogenic bacteria begin to flourish in the mouth, bad breath develops. It is important to have your pet’s oral health fully assessed with thorough oral examination and dental radiographs as soon as bad breath is noticed to prevent severe infections and tooth loss. These bacteria can also negatively affect other parts of the body and contribute to cardiac or renal disease.

My Pet Has Increased Risks For Anesthesia, How Can They Get The Dental Care They Need?

It is not fair to make a pet live with chronic dental pain and infection because they are considered an increased risk for anesthesia. At Pet Dental Center, we specialize in providing high level anesthesia care for geriatric pets and those with increased risks such as heart, kidney, liver, neurologic, diabetes and Cushing’s diseases. Because of our reputation for providing the highest level of anesthesia care possible, we average treating one high risk patient each day. Trust your pet with the ones who perform the most anesthesia procedures in high risk patients, Pet Dental Center.

Is It Normal For My Pet’s Teeth To Fall Out?

Baby or deciduous teeth are supposed to fall out when dogs and cats are teething, between 3 and 7 months of age. Adult or permanent teeth are present for the life of a dog and cat as long as they are healthy. If your pet is losing adult teeth there is severe dental disease. Advanced periodontal disease is the most likely cause for a pet losing teeth although dental fractures and tooth resorption are other likely causes.

What Kind Of Chews Are Good For My Pet’s Teeth?

Brushing your pet’s teeth is the best way to prevent dental disease at home and should be performed daily. When your pet does not accept brushing or for supplemental dental care in those pets who are getting their teeth brushed, dental chews can be a good choice. We recommend using dental chews that have the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of approval. This verifies that the product has been tested in clinical trials and was shown to significantly reduce plaque or calculus. We also recommend slowly introducing dental chews by offering a reduced amount of the chew and observing your pet while chewing. This is to make sure he or she does not swallow a large portion of the chew that could lead to choking or digestive complications. Hard chew objects such as bones, hooves, antlers, thick rawhide products and plastic toys often lead to dental fractures and should always be avoided.