Routine Dental Cleaning
Dog & Cat Teeth Cleanings in Phoenix, AZ
Just as in humans, routine dental cleaning is one of the most important means to living a long, happy and pain-free life. Most dogs and cats will have some form of periodontal disease by the time they in the second year of their life.
Periodontal disease is the disease and destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth. Routine cleaning is an important aid in preventing and/or controlling periodontal disease.
When our four-legged kids have their teeth cleaned, they must go under general anesthesia. The doctors at Carefree Dentistry and Oral Surgery for Animals have advanced anesthetic training and years of experience.
We customize anesthetic protocols for each individual patient. In addition, we utilize state-of-the-art anesthesia and anesthesia monitoring equipment.
We are proud to offer optional access to a Board-Certified Veterinary Anesthesiologist through our partnership with My Anesthesiologist™, ensuring an elevated level of anesthesia expertise for patients who may benefit from specialty care.
Your kiddo will have a trained nurse assigned to them from the time they start to get sleepy until they safely wake up. Being safe is our top priority.
What happens during my pets dental cleaning?
The first thing happening is that your four-legged kiddo will be examined, and pre-anesthetic lab tests (a complete blood count and biochemical profile) are preformed to assess the status of the major body systems. Then, a customized anesthetic protocol is planned.
Your pet is then given a mild sedative. When the sedative is in effect, an IV catheter, blood pressure monitor and EKG leads are placed. Base line blood pressure and EKG readings are obtained. Vital signs are monitored continuously and recorded every five minutes.
When the patient is sleeping, x-rays of all the teeth and a cat scan image (CT) are obtained.
The doctor then examines each tooth and its surrounding tissue while viewing each x-ray and CT scan.
The teeth are then scaled and polished. The area just under the gumline is the most important area to be cleaned. It is impossible to clean this area in an awake pet.
If additional diagnostic or treatments are needed, a treatment plan is formulated and we call you to review this. With your consent, most treatments are completed that day.
Some procedures can cause varying degrees of pain. We acknowledge this and take it very seriously. We know being uncomfortable and in pain can cause delayed healing. We work very hard and have good success at preventing pain through local anesthesia, injectable analgesics, and oral medications.
Your pet is monitored until they have recovered enough to go home. You will be called, and a discharge appointment is created.
When you pick up your pet, a detailed description of the day’s events and instructions for home care and/or follow-up exams are discussed. You will be shown the x-rays and be given copies of the records.
The cleaning package includes:
- Pre-anesthetic lab tests which includes a complete blood count and biochemical profile. We test major organ function prior to anesthesia to identify problems and make anesthesia as safe as possible.
- IV Catheter
- Pre-anesthetic Medications
- General Anesthesia & Sophisticated Electronic Monitoring – Our team is highly trained and experienced in veterinary anesthesia. Rest assured that your dog or cat’s anesthesia will be customized to their specific needs and your pet will be closely monitored throughout the entire process.
- Digital Dental X-rays and Cat Scan – These special imaging modalities allow us to get a full picture of your pet’s mouth and identify periodontal disease, fractured teeth or oral cancer that is not visible without x-rays. The advantage of digital imaging allows shorter anesthetic periods by real-time assessment of diagnostic images.
- The doctor will do a detailed and complete oral examination
- Thorough and professional teeth cleaning & teeth polishing. Polishing the teeth smooths them and makes them less susceptible to rapid accumulation of bacteria of plaque and tartar, as can happen with a pet’s tooth is scaled improperly.
- You will be given copies of your pet’s dental images, dental chart and detailed discharge instructions.
- Peace of mind knowing your pet is receiving the gold standard in veterinary dental care that can prevent painful dental disease and save costs down the road.
