Dental Care is Critical to your Pet's Health
Call today for an appointment (602) 395-9773 and fill out the history form so you can help your valued family member to optimum health.
What does my pet get for a "routine cleaning" at North Central Animal Hospital?
* A dental pre-screening consultation is needed to stage the degree of dental disease, review your pet's history, and schedule the dental procedure. During National Dental Month in February, there are several options for discounts and savings. Please call us for details.
Presurgical bloodwork is recommended for all pets, but a preanesthesia profile is required for pets 7 years or older, and must be done within 30 days of the dental treatment.
Proof of current vaccinations, including Rabies (dogs & cats) and DHP(dogs) or RCP(cats) are required prior to scheduling the dental services. Rabies vaccines here are only $5!
Outpatient Hospitalization
* Pre-anesthetic examination by a licensed veterinarian with special advanced training in pet dental health
* A designated animal technician ("pet nurse") for the day
* IV catheter
* IV fluids with infusion pump during anesthesia for precise volume and rate
* Intubation to protect the airway, & ensure regular breathing and lung inflation
* Safe & gentle Isoflurane anesthesia carried by pure oxygen and delivered by precise vaporizers that are routinely service to ensure accuracy & safety
* Vital sign monitoring by both a trained technician & high tech machines
* Individually sterilized dental instruments for each pet
* Antibiotic oral rinse
* Full mouth dental cleaning above and below the gumline using both hand instruments and ultrasonic cleaners
* Periodontal probing to detect gingival pockets
* Individual assessment of each tooth and all parts of the oral cavity including gum surfaces and the tongue with notations of all problems noted in the pet's medical record
* Tooth polishing to ensure enamel surfaces are smooth with no microscopic scratches
* Fluoride treatment to harden the enamel and seal exposed dentin
* Free sample of prescription dental diet T/D
* Free toothbrush
* Recommendations will be made to keep healthy teeth clean and reduce the need for frequent treatments or future tooth loss.
* A medical plan may be presented to address areas of unhealthy teeth and gums to determine if further treatment is needed for the same day or for a future visit.
Does your pet have Kissable Breath?
Not only does a healthy mouth smell better, but it improves overall health as well. Heavy oral bacteria can pass throughout the body, causing build-up on heart valves and clogging the kidneys & liver. Irritated gums are also painful and can lead to reluctance to chew hard food, reluctance to play with toys, and overall change in demeanor.
We are also able to address any routine and most advanced dental problems including dental x-rays, extractions closed with sutures, gum tumor removal or other surgical flaps, tooth restoration for enamel damage, vital pulpotomies, and orthodontics. We have the specialized equipment and supplies on hand for most problems encountered.
Research-proven products to help keep your pet's oral health optimal and reduce plaque and tartar buildup are also conveniently available. These include ultra-soft specially shaped toothbrushes for cats and dogs, flavored enzyme toothpastes like vanilla mint for a daily fresh breath boost, water additives for convenient treatment that works all day, diets that act as "edible toothbrushes", and several chew treats. Visit www.VOHC.org.
Is a chipped tooth serious?
Enamel is like the candy coating on a peanut M&M. 
Once the protective "shell" is damaged, the underlying "chocolate layer" dentin is exposed which contains millions of microscopic
holes that connect to the central root canal "peanut" where the sensitive nerve endings and blood supply connected to the rest of the body lives. These sensitive teeth affect the quality
of life on a daily basis, and can put their entire body at risk for infection. The bacteria easily travel through the holes in the exposed dentin like a highway directly into
the blood supply. Damage to heart valves, kidneys, and liver infections are the most common site affected by these circulating mouth bacteria. When the tooth root canal becomes
infected, an abscess can start to form in the surrounding bone by the tip of the root deep within the jaw or facial bone. A tooth that appears fairly normal can have severe disease
simmering below the surface.
Why are x-rays helpful?
For people, we have dental x-rays of only a few areas of our mouth, mostly to look for cavities between the teeth. Cats get cavities
much more than dogs, and they can also form under
the gumline. Sometimes a tooth looks fine, but x-rays may show abscessed root tissue in a soup of liquefied bone. Once the tooth is dead, it is perpetually at risk for developing
an abscess. Ignoring a dead tooth is the same as ignoring a large sharp thorn that had been accidentally impaled into the gums. At some point, the trouble brewing at the cellular
level can erupt into a sudden emergency.
Why does a cleaning for my pet cost more than for me?
The dental cleaning itself is a similar or lower cost to human dental services of a comparable disease state. Many adults and children are able to understand and tolerate the often uncomfortable positions and procedures on their own teeth, and 90% of human dental patients have professional dental care done every 6 months. Some people need anesthesia to have a routine cleaning, and most need at least sedation and local pain blocks if any root surfaces are exposed. The cost for this is significantly more than the fees charged at the veterinary office, often for the same medications used. Human dental insurance costs over $400 per year per person, plus a $50 copay and then 20% is still paid out of your pocket. Hand scaling is usually the typical level of standard cleaning needed for routine dental care in most people. The ultrasonic scalers commonly needed for the degree of dental disease in pets are reserved for more advanced periodontal scaling in people. When used on humans, this service typically costs $200 for each of the four quadrants of the mouth.
What about anesthesia-free dental treatments?
This is only a cosmetic procedure with too many unacceptable risks. It is impossible to properly clean under the gumline and assess the health of each tooth on an awake pet. The procedure is also illegal and reportable to the state veterinary licensing board when provided by someone not under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Serious dental disease is often missed and we frequently hear clients state they were saddened their pet unnecessarily lost teeth or had severe health problems when they thought the anesthesia-free cleaning was sufficient to care for their pet. Money wasted on this useless procedure could be invested into meaningful health care to improve the quality and length of life for your pet.
View the American Veterinary Dental College's Position Statements: www.avdc.org/statements.html
To schedule a pet, call (602) 395-9773.
Click here to read a short article about the importance of dental care:
Pets Have Teeth Too
Severe Dental Disease in a 6 year old dog Healthy Teeth and Gums in a young dog
How does dental disease happen?
(Thanks to Dr. Jan Bellows and Indian Walk Veterinary Center)
Early Gingivitis in a Dog
It starts with plaque, a colorless film, composed mostly of bacteria, that forms continuously on the teeth and gums. As it mixes with food particles and minerals in the saliva, it becomes a brownish paste called tartar. Over time, it hardens into a cement-like material called calculus.
Grade 1 Gingivitis. Inflammation at gum line.
The first stage of dental disease is called gingivitis. The gums are swollen, red and sore. There may be a bright red line along the edge of the gums and the beginnings of bad breath.
Grade 1 Gingivitis in a Cat
Note the inflammation (redness) along the gum line. This stage is reversible with early intervention and professional care
Grade 2 Gingivitis. Edema (swelling) and inflammation.
Untreated, gingivitis progresses to periodontal disease. Calculus advances under the gum line, breaking the attachments between the teeth and their surrounding tissues.
Grade 2 Periodontal Disease. Edema, gingival bleeding upon probing.
Bacteria invade the damaged tissues, causing inflammation and further damage to the teeth and gums.
Grade 3 Periodontal Disease. Inflammation, edema, pus, loss of bone.
When the infection spreads to the tooth roots and jaw, abscesses form, bone resorbs, and teeth are lost.
Grade 3 Periodontal Disease in a Cat.
At this point your pet may have difficulty eating due to pain. You may see bleeding when your pet chews.
At this stage you will notice a severe foul odor to your pet's breath.
Grade 4 Periodontal Disease. Exposure of roots due to gum recession and bone loss.
Once severe periodontal disease has developed, much of the damage is irreversible.
Exposure of the furcation (space) between the roots in a cat with periodontal disease.
We can only do our best to improve the situation as much as possible with professional periodontal treatment followed by faithful home care.
What happens to my pet during a dental procedure?
Pre-op Exam
A physical exam will be performed by a licensed Veterinarian to assess for any abnormal findings..
Drawing Blood
If not done before the day of the procedure, blood will be drawn for a Complete Blood Count and a General Health Panel. These tests will ensure that your pet's vital organs are capable of handling the anesthesia. If your pet is under 7 years old we do not require blood work but it is highly recommended.
Placing I.V. Catheter
An IV catheter will be placed so that anesthetics and other medications can be administered safely. IV fluids help ensure the blood pressure maintains at a safe level.
Induction of anesthesia and intubation
Your pet will be anesthetized using the safest and most modern techniques available. Heart rate, breathing and temperature will be constantly monitored until your pet is fully awake.
Inspection of Oral Cavity
A thorough exam of the mouth and throat will be performed to pick up any abnormality that might be hard to see in an awake animal.
Canine Dental Chart
The teeth will be charted and any missing or damaged teeth noted. Pockets between the teeth and gum will be measured.
Hand Scaling
The teeth will be scaled by hand...
Ultrasonic Scaler
...as well as ultrasonically to remove all traces of plaque, tartar and calculus, both above and below the gumline.
Extracted Incisors (front teeth)
Teeth with severely diseased roots or exposed pulp cavities will be removed to eliminate a source of chronic infection.
Extracted Molar
If extractions or other painful procedures are necessary, your pet will receive appropriate pain medications during and after the procedure.
Antiseptic Flush
The mouth is thoroughly flushed with an antibacterial solution to kill germs.
Polishing Teeth
The teeth are polished to smooth their surfaces in order to slow the buildup of tartar. Fluoride is then applied to the surface of the teeth to help strengthen the enamel.
Immediately after the Procedure
Anesthesia will be discontinued. Depending on the extent of dental disease, your pet will be asleep for anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour.
In Recovery
Your pet will be brushed out, nails clipped, then moved to a soft padded bed in the recovery area to continue waking up.
Just Back from a Walk
Once fully awake, your pet will have a short walk outside and a bandage will be applied after the IV catheter is removed
Going Home
At discharge time, a technician will discuss what was done for your pet and go over your discharge instructions and home dental care suggestions.
Look for this seal on pet treats that actually help reduce dental disease:
Visit www.VOHC.org
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