Frequently Asked Questions
So, you know your dog or cat needs dental work, but you still have questions. Read our FAQ’s below!
FAQs
I have heard about “anesthesia-free dentistry”-would you do the procedure without anesthesia?
Because we both want the same thing for your pets-absolutely NOT. Anesthesia-free dentistry addresses the part of the tooth we can see but IGNORES the part we cannot see (the root of the tooth). It can make dental disease worse in the long-run and is not a healthy choice for pets.
For more information about anaesthesia-free dentistry, Check out the “Important Links” page.
I don’t have a vet, but I know my pet needs a dental cleaning
No problem! You can choose an easy consultation appointment as the first step. (see above to schedule)
My Veterinarian recommended a dental cleaning but they did not mention your practice as an option. Can I still use you?
YES! Reach out to DVDP using the “contact us” link below. Include information about your pet, their needs and the veterinary hospital you work with. We can contact the hospital directly to get the information we need (if you wish) or we can contact you directly.
What will happen on the day of surgery?
Each pet is monitored closely while under anesthesia. Your pet will have a dedicated member of our staff through the whole procedure and will also be watched closely with advanced monitoring to help us make proactive choices along the way.
DVDP works as a team. The veterinarians are present and active throughout the entire procedure, helping to monitor anesthesia, evaluate the dental X-rays, determine the treatment plan for each pet, and perform any and all extractions and rootwork.
If needed, we will discuss our findings during the procedure, in case changes need to be considered such as a referral to a specialist for a root canal to save a fractured tooth.
If your pet needs to have excessive dental work that requires additional overnight pain medications and monitoring, we work with local emergency hospitals to continue care.
Are dental X-rays always necessary?
YES! A large part of the tooth lives under the gumline, so X-rays are the standard of care for every dental procedure. We need to see the full story before we can decide if the teeth and gums are truly healthy.
For more information on dental X-rays, Check out the “Important Links” Page.
Is anesthesia safe for my pet?
It can be scary to think about anesthesia and how it may affect your pet. It would be easy to say “I don’t want to put them through it, let’s just forget the dental”. But, anesthesia today has advanced to a place where it is controlled and careful. So what does DVDP do to make sure things go well?
Each pet will get an exam to look for problems like heart murmurs, abnormal breathing, or any other concerns
Each pet will have bloodwork performed before the procedure to evaluate their internal organs for any problems
During anesthesia, they are monitored by advanced machinery to alarm the staff about any concerns, and they are also monitored by the staff every step of the way
After anesthesia, a member of the DVDP team is with them to make sure they are waking up, their temperature is normal, and they are recovering smoothly
For more information on anaesthesia, Check out the “Important Links” Page.
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