Prior to any dental procedure, you will be given special instructions on feeding your pet the night before and withholding food the morning of the procedure. Your pet will be checked into the clinic in the morning.

 

All dental procedures in animals require general anaesthesia. Anaesthesia is important to ensure that all teeth are thoroughly cleaned above and below the gum line and protects the airway from water and particles being aspirated. At our clinic, prior to any anaesthetic procedure, we offer pre-anaesthetic blood tests. Liver and kidney function are two organs routinely tested in our panel. The benefits of pre-anaesthetic blood testing are to identify any underlying abnormalities, ensuring that your pet is a good anaesthetic candidate and allowing us to modify our anaesthetic protocol if required. These blood tests can be done in our clinic on the same day as the dental procedure. 

 

You will be given an anaesthesia consent form to fill in and sign. A veterinarian will discuss any questions you may have concerning the dental and anaesthetic procedure.

 

Before being given a sedation or anaesthetic the veterinarian will perform a physical exam, listen to your pet's heart and lungs, and review his or her blood work. An anaesthetic plan is prepared, and your pet is given a sedative and pain medication.

 

Once your pet is under anaesthesia, our veterinarian will perform a full dental exam.  An ultrasonic scaler and specialised hand instruments are used to remove the tartar and plaque that have accumulated above and below the gumline. All teeth are then polished leaving a completely smooth surface of the tooth which discourages plaque and bacteria from adhering to the surface. Any necessary extractions are performed at this time.

 

After the procedure is completed, a veterinarian will monitor your pet until he or she is fully recovered. Your pet will remain in the clinic under veterinary supervision until having fully recovered from anaesthesia, which usually takes until early afternoon depending on the patient. 

 

When your pet is discharged, a veterinarian will discuss all findings. Written postoperative care instructions will be provided, and medications and feeding instructions will be explained. The veterinarian will also provide recommendations for home care in between cleanings.