Dental Care
How is dentistry different at S&S Family Pet Hospital compared to other animal hospitals?
Comparing dental procedures between hospitals can be challenging because much of it happens behind the scenes and involves technical aspects.
However, here’s what sets our dental procedure apart:
1. Anesthetic safety
Anesthesia is often the most concerning aspect of any procedure due to the potential for complications. When performed correctly, the risk of unexpected fatal complications is less than one-tenth of one percent. What should concern us more is the large number of animals suffering from untreated dental issues that cause chronic pain. We believe the benefits of improved quality of life far outweigh the risks associated with anesthesia. For more detailed information, see our section on safe anesthesia.
2. Full mouth dental radiographs
While the visible part of your pet’s teeth (the crowns) constitutes only one-third of the entire tooth, the other two-thirds are hidden within the jaw and not visible without radiographs (X-rays). To assess the complete tooth, we routinely take radiographs of the tooth roots. Often, we discover teeth that appear normal at the crown level but have substantial abscesses at the root. Without dental radiographs, these abscesses would go unnoticed, and your pet would continue to experience pain and bad breath. Taking radiographs of the entire mouth ensures the dental procedure is comprehensive.
3. Ultrasonic scaling, polishing, probing, charting, and fluoride
These are integral steps in the dental cleaning process that enable us to prevent and treat early dental disease. For minor bone loss and pocketing around the teeth, we can also apply an antibiotic-infused gel to treat any remaining infection and prevent further tooth decay.
4. Bonded sealants and composite restorations
In cases where teeth have fractured due to chewing on hard toys or other objects, and there is no communication with the pulp chamber of the tooth, we can perform bonded sealants and composite restorations to alleviate pain and prevent future tooth loss.
5. Extraction of severely damaged teeth
Teeth with significant decay, resorptive lesions, or infections may require oral surgery for removal. Some teeth may also be candidates for root canal therapy, which can be performed in our hospital.
6. Nerve blocks
Extractions can be painful procedures, and to ensure your pet’s comfort, we administer nerve blocks to numb the affected mouth region. This not only improves your pet’s comfort but also reduces the amount of gas anesthesia required, enhancing the procedure’s safety.
7. Post-operative recovery and monitoring
After each procedure, careful monitoring of your pet is crucial to ensure they recover from the effects of anesthesia and regain normal life functions (breathing, oxygenation, circulation, temperature control, etc.). A dedicated technician and monitoring equipment are assigned to your pet until they have fully recovered and we are confident in their safety.
8. Pain medications
For routine cleanings where no major disease is found, post-procedure pain medications are not typically necessary. In addition to our nerve blocks, we provide pain medications to take home, ensuring your pet’s comfort and proper healing.
9. Recheck examination after extractions
To confirm complete healing of the mouth and extraction sites, we offer a free post-surgical recheck examination. During this examination, we evaluate the mouth’s condition and provide guidance on feeding and at-home care.
10. At-home preventative care and maintenance counseling
After performing the dental procedure and restoring the mouth to a clean, disease-free state, our objective is to maintain this condition as long as possible.