Dentistry

Dentistry & Dental Digital Radiology

Keeping our pets smiling brightly and their mouths smelling fresh and healthy is a priority for all of us pet owners. Unfortunately, oral health can often be overlooked until there is a problem. Should your pet be in need of a dental cleaning, the veterinary team at Michigan Road Animal Hospital at 96th Street is here to help!

So what happens if we recommend a dental cleaning for your pet? Dental prophylaxis is a bit more involved in pets than in people. Since they won’t voluntarily open wide, general anesthesia is required to allow a complete oral exam, thorough cleaning, probing and charting of the teeth as well as radiographs (or x-rays) of your pet’s mouth.

Without full sedation it is impossible to truly address all problem areas, especially the areas under the gum line. Additionally, sedation & anesthesia during a dental cleaning allows us to lessen your pet’s stress & discomfort during the procedure. Although anesthesia will always have risks, it’s safer now than ever and continues to improve so that the risks are very low and are far outweighed by the benefits.

Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is either done the day of your pet’s dentistry procedure, or up to a week or two before hand, to give us an added measure of safety prior to administering sedation and anesthesia.

As an extra measure of safety, we place an IV catheter for the administration of IV fluids during your pet’s dental procedure, and in case emergency medications need to be administered. Digital dental radiographs are part of our CORE dentistry procedures, too! Just like at our dentist, dental radiographs allow us to evaluate the roots and underlying bone health of your pet’s teeth. If needed, our doctors are proficient and skilled at performing oral surgery right at our office. In some cases, we may have to refer your pet to a specialist as that is an option, too. As always, we will assess whether your pet needs for antibiotics or additional pain medication throughout the procedure.

Typically, we will just need your pet for the day on the scheduled day of their cleaning. We will want to admit your pet early in the morning that day. Special care is taken to provide detailed home-dental care instruction for your pet’s continued oral health when you pick your pet up, and recheck visits are often part of the process to evaluate your pet’s continued oral health after the procedure.

Your veterinary team at Michigan Road Animal Hospital at 96th Street is here to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and pain free. Oral health is a super important part of that equation–and our entire team is not only trained, but dedicated to this philosophy! Have questions? Need an appointment for your pet? Call or text us today at 317-228-0645 or click the button above to book your appointment for your fur-baby, today!

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