Dental Procedures
Dental care is one of the most important aspects of your pet's health. Routine cleanings can help prevent plaque and tartar build-up which can improve gum health and actually help prevent other health issues, such as heart problems, as the pet ages.
Basic Dental |
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Dental Procedure |
Trach Tube |
IV Catheter - (required for patients over 9 years of age, otherwise optional) |
Necessary Extractions |
Medications to go Home |
Additional Options
Preanestheic Blood Work
Provides the veterinarian with critical information about vital organ and blood cell function prior to sedation and can alert to major and minor problems that can impact how patients do under anesthesia. HIGHLY recommended for pets over the age of 7, overall recommended for all pets.
Dental Polishing
Removes microscopic scratches and decreases the rate of subsequent plaque build-up.
Dental X-Rays
Allows the veterinarian to examine the teeth below the gum line. Dogs cannot tell us when their teeth are diseased, and some dogs never show that they are in pain, even if they are. In many cases, X-rays are the only way your veterinarian can know that your dog has a serious dental problem.
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Grade 0
Healthy looking teeth. No plaque or gingivitis present.
Plan of Action
None needed!
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Grade 1
Mild gingivitis and plaque are present.
Plan of Action
Home care (brushing or chews)
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Grade 2
Mild to moderate tartar and gingivitis on multiple teeth.
Plan of Action
Professional scaling & polishing
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Grade 3
Heavy tartar and periodontal disease with bone loss.
Plan of Action
Cleaning & possible extraction
When was the last time you looked at your pet's teeth? Dental issues, like plaque and tartar buildup, can affect gum health, cause cavities, oral abscesses, and affect other areas of the body. Plaque and tartar issues are more common in older pets and smaller breeds, but routine dental cleaning can help keep our furry friends healthy! We usually recommend starting annual dental cleaning around age 7.
See the Issue?
To the untrained eye, these may appear to be a normal tooth x-ray, but what you're actually seeing here is bone loss and tooth decay!
At Cadillac Vet, we have on-site x-rays so we can quickly get to the bottom of your pet's smile (literally)!
So, Why Are Dental X-Rays Necessary?
Our pets are not easily able to tell us when they are uncomfortable or in pain. Often, we do not realize that problems in the mouth exist until they are severe and unable to be treated, leaving extraction as the only option.
Routine dental exams and radiographs allow the veterinarian to evaluate the health of the teeth, gums, and bone by:
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Checking for fractures in the teeth below the gumline, which can lead to infection and pain
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Checking for tooth decay and bone loss below the gumline, which can lead to infection and pain
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Evaluating how well each tooth is being held in the mouth and whether or not there is excess space between the teeth and gums, which can lead to infection, bone loss, and tooth decay.
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Staging periodontal disease
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Ensuring that all pieces of a tooth have been removed during extraction
Routine radiographs are essential to catching problems early, when treatment might be an option. If treatment is not an option, we can remove problematic teeth before the pain becomes unbearable for our pets.
Routine radiographs can also reduce the frequency of emergency dental cleanings by catching minor issues before they become major, painful
situations.