Understanding Pet Dental Care and Dental Cleanings
Caring for your pet’s teeth is just as important as caring for the rest of their body. Dental disease is common in pets and often goes unnoticed until it becomes painful or advanced. At Animal Oasis of the Rockies in Broomfield, our veterinary team provides thorough dental evaluations and professional cleanings to help protect your pet’s comfort, health, and quality of life.
Below, we’ll explain why pet dental care matters, what you can do at home, and what to expect when your pet comes in for a professional dental procedure with our team.
Why Pet Dental Care Is Important
Without routine dental care, plaque and bacteria quickly build up on a pet’s teeth. Over time, this plaque hardens into tartar and moves beneath the gum line, where it can damage the structures that support the teeth. As dental disease progresses, pets may experience gum inflammation, infection, tooth loss, and chronic pain.
Because pets are very good at hiding discomfort, dental disease often goes unnoticed until it becomes severe. Routine dental exams and cleanings allow us to identify problems early and address them before they affect your pet’s overall health.
How to Care for Your Pet’s Teeth at Home
Daily observation of your pet’s mouth can help you spot early signs of dental trouble. Common indicators of dental disease include bad breath, red or bleeding gums, increased drooling, difficulty eating, weight loss, or visible changes inside the mouth.
At-home dental care may include brushing your pet’s teeth using a pet-safe toothbrush and toothpaste, along with veterinarian-recommended dental treats or products. While home care is important, it cannot replace professional cleanings, especially when tartar forms beneath the gum line.
What to Expect During a Professional Dental Procedure at Animal Oasis of the Rockies
When your pet arrives for a dental procedure, they are first checked in and examined by our veterinary team. One of our skilled technicians will review the dental estimate and procedure details with you so you know exactly what to expect.
All pets are anesthetized for their dental procedures, but before anesthesia, your pet receives a full physical examination to ensure they are healthy. Based on this assessment, medications and anesthetic doses are carefully calculated. Your pet is then gently sedated and prepared for anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Monitoring, and Dental Treatment
Once under anesthesia, an IV catheter is placed, and your pet is intubated to maintain a safe airway and provide oxygen and anesthetic gas. A dedicated veterinary technician monitors your pet closely throughout the procedure, tracking vital signs such as heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, temperature, and respiration.
Full-mouth digital dental X-rays are taken to evaluate the teeth below the gum line, where much of dental disease occurs and cannot be seen during a visual exam. The doctor reviews these images to determine if additional treatment, such as extractions, is needed.
During your pet's dental, the following are conducted:
- Complete oral examination
- Digital dental X-rays to assess tooth roots and bone health
- Ultrasonic and hand scaling above and below the gum line
- Thorough polishing to smooth tooth surfaces
- Evaluation for periodontal disease, mobility, or abnormalities
Your Pet's Dental Recovery and Aftercare
After the dental procedure is complete, your pet is carefully monitored during recovery to ensure they wake up comfortably and safely. Once awake and stable, our team checks body temperature, removes the IV catheter, and prepares your pet to go home.
A dental technician will contact you to review the procedure, discuss any findings, and provide detailed home care instructions. We also follow up after the procedure to check on your pet’s recovery and answer any additional questions.
How Our Veterinarian Can Help Support Your Pet's Dental Health
If your pet shows signs of dental discomfort or is due for a routine cleaning, our veterinarian, Dr. Huber, is here to help. During professional dental cleanings, we assess your pet’s oral health, remove plaque and tartar, address any dental concerns, and provide guidance on maintaining healthy teeth at home.
Our goal is to help your pet enjoy a healthy mouth, a comfortable smile, and the ability to eat and enjoy life without dental pain.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (303) 900-7765, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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