Dental disease is very common in both dogs and cats and can be a major cause of discomfort and ill health if left untreated. This is why all our surgeries have dental suites.
A typical dental procedure will be a 90-minute surgical procedure. It includes general anaesthesia, dental charting (where each tooth and the gums are assessed individually for disease) and dental x-rays as required. Diseased teeth will be extracted based on priority and the remaining healthy teeth will be cleaned. Minor surgical procedures such as the removal of gum growths (epuli) may also be performed.
It's often difficult to know how much dental work is needed until your pet's mouth is examined under anaesthetic. As we charge by time, not the number of x-rays or number of extractions, you pay the same no matter what we find. In the majority of cases, 90 minutes is enough time to complete your pet's dental care. However, in cases of severe dental disease or where many of the extractions are complex, your vet may advise that your pet's dental treatment needs to be carried out over two procedures. This is safer, reduces the risk of complications and by allowing the mouth to recover between two procedures, we get a better long-term outcome for your pet and for you.
Early signs of dental problems
Regularly check your pet’s mouth for signs of gum inflammation (gingivitis), like redness along the gum line or visible tartar. Watch out for other signals such as pawing at the mouth, bad breath, or a change in eating habits.
Let's keep those paws and mouths healthy.
