Dental Care
Dental Care
Dental health is an important indicator of your pet’s overall health. By age 3, about 80% of dogs and 70% of cats already show signs of dental disease. Even if your pet’s mouth looks clean, hidden problems may be beneath the surface. Dental disease isn’t just limited to your pet’s teeth or mouth. Left untreated, dental disease can progress to painful infections, tooth loss, and damage to vital organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys.
When is my pet’s dental health examined?
Your pet’s dental health is evaluated at every wellness visit (once a year for most pets, or twice a year for seniors and those with a history of dental issues).
During this full oral check, we:
- look closely at the teeth and gums for tartar, redness, swelling, fractures, loose teeth, or signs of pain.
- assess your pet’s bite and jaw comfort, and check for oral masses or ulcers.
- talk with you about home care options like brushing, chews, rinses, and any risk factors your pet may have.
While these full oral checks help us spot problems early, most pets also need a professional dental cleaning once a year, starting around age 3. A professional dental cleaning under anesthesia allows us to scale away plaque and tartar above and below the gumline, polish the teeth, and take dental X-rays to detect hidden disease.
To the left, you’ll find the Dental Grading Chart we use to explain your pet’s oral health and determine when a professional cleaning is needed.
What happens during my pet’s professional dental cleaning?
Like people, pets should get their teeth professionally cleaned and have dental x-rays taken. This preventive care contributes to your pet’s long-term wellness, as we can detect hidden problems, remove painful tartar and infection, and protect their heart and kidneys.
Dr. Marianne’s passion for dentistry is one of the key factors that led to the expansion of Gobles Veterinary Clinic. With a focus in dentistry, Dr. Marianne has made it her mission to help pets who are suffering in silence from dental disease. Cats and dogs are masters at hiding pain. Dental disease can affect many parts of their everyday lives, from eating to how they rest their heads to get comfortable, playtime, and sleep.
“Our animals don’t tell us when they’re in pain. I had a cat with a loose canine tooth come in. That loose tooth had to be so painful, but the cat never showed it. That’s why dental care is so important.” – Dr. Marianne Leduc-Baker, Owner and Founder.
Why dental cleanings are a little different for our pets?
Because pets don’t understand what a dental is, we use anesthesia to keep them safe, pain-free, and stress-free. This lets us clean above and below the gumline, where disease often hides, and provide the same thorough care we’d want for ourselves.
Before
- Pre-anesthetic bloodwork to ensure safety.
- We review the plan and answer your questions.
- Gentle anesthesia is administered.
- Familiar faces will be there as they go to sleep and by their side until they open their eyes.
During
- Plaque and tartar are removed above and below the gumline.
- Dental X-rays are taken to find hidden problems.
- Any painful/diseased teeth are addressed and removed with your prior approval.
- Continuous monitoring to keep your pet warm, comfortable, and stable.
After
- Calm, supervised recovery with pain management as needed.
- We review findings (photos/X-rays) and give clear home-care instructions.
- On the same day as their dental cleaning, your pet will be ready to return to your arms or lap with fresher breath and a healthier mouth.
Related Services
Preventive and Wellness Care
