Dental Health Is More Than Just Fresh Breath

We offer professional dental cleanings, oral exams, and treatment for dental disease for dogs and cats.

Pet dental health is often overlooked but has critical implications for your pet’s quality of life and well-being.

It is possible that up to 70 % of cats have some level of periodontal disease by age 2, and 80-90% of dogs over the age of 3 exhibit some evidence as well. Unfortunately, many pets suffer from poor oral health, such as periodontal disease, fractured or unerupted teeth, or resorptive lesions. These can lead to pain, infection in the bone or sinuses, trouble eating or playing, and systemic problems affecting the heart, liver, and kidneys. Proper dental care can help prevent plaque and tartar buildup, keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy, and treat underlying periodontal disease which contributes to a good quality of life.

Pet Dentistry Services

Our MTCAC team provides professional pet dentistry services to prevent dental problems and treat existing oral health conditions. Our team is passionate about the importance of dental care as well as at home dental care.

Dental examinations

Pets need the same oral care as people, including daily toothbrushing and routine professional cleanings. Regular dental exams are essential for detecting and addressing dental issues before they become serious. During a dental exam, our veterinarians will thoroughly inspect your pet’s teeth and gums, looking for signs of plaque, tartar, gum disease, broken or loose teeth, and other oral problems. Our veterinarians can perform a brief dental exam when your pet visits for routine wellness care.

Digital Dental X-rays

Our mission to be thorough and most up to date includes taking digital dental X-rays. These focused images allow us to see each tooth’s entire structure, including the root, and are essential to identify common issues, including tooth root abscesses, bone loss, tooth resorption, and unerupted teeth. Most tooth problems in dogs and cats occur below the gum line, where you cannot see them, and can be missed on a routine oral exam or if dental x-rays are not performed. Our veterinary team performs full-mouth dental X-rays each time your pet is anesthetized for a dental cleaning or oral surgery.

Comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment “COHAT” (Also known as dental cleanings)

Dental cleanings/COHATs can be used to treat existing dental issues, but they are best used to prevent periodontal disease and other dental problems. During a professional dental cleaning/COHAT, trained team members remove plaque and tartar buildup above and below the gum line, take dental X-rays, and polish your pet’s teeth. Our veterinarians perform a comprehensive oral examination and appropriately treat problem teeth if needed.

At MTCAC, we recommend regular dental cleanings annually for most pets, although we will evaluate each pet individually and provide customized recommendations.

Oral surgery

Many dental problems require surgical intervention to remove or treat diseased teeth, gingiva, or bone. Our veterinary team can perform a range of dental procedures to address complex dental issues, including extractions, sealants, root planning and oral tumors. Anything that is beyond our skill set (crowns, endodontics, orthodontia) we offer referral and consult to a boarded veterinary dentist. We use oral nerve blocks and injectable pain medications to ensure your pet remains comfortable throughout their stay. We send each pet home with personalized recommendations for home care and follow-up.

Dental anesthesia

Anesthesia is essential for dental procedures, ensuring your pet remains still and pain-free during their treatment. While anesthesia-free dentistry seems appealing, it can cause pets extreme stress and does not allow for a thorough cleaning, X-rays, or necessary treatments. We take every precaution to ensure safe anesthesia for all pets, which includes conducting a thorough pre-anesthetic evaluation. This consists of evaluating the heart and lung function, lab work and possible diagnostic imaging depending on the pet’s age and current health status. We have a technician dedicated to monitoring your pet closely throughout the procedure and after.

Visit our surgery page about full process of anesthesia.

At-home dental care

At-home tooth brushing is the most effective way to maintain pet dental health between professional cleanings. Brushing daily with a pet-safe toothpaste and soft-bristled toothbrush removes plaque buildup, reduces harmful oral bacteria, and keeps your pet’s breath fresh. Our team can provide a tooth brushing demonstration, offer tips for helping pets acclimate, and recommend safe, effective dental products to help with plaque removal or for pets who will not accept brushing.