Get consultations included as part of a Pet Health Club® Plus plan. Join today!

Dentistry

We pride ourselves on taking a pro-active approach to dental health

Dental disease is the most common condition in adult dogs and cats. We pride ourselves on taking a pro-active approach to dental health in our patients because we are aware of the major contribution it makes to their wellbeing - far, far beyond just fresh breath and pearly whites.

Bacteria in the mouth produce dental plaque which accumulates above and below the gumline, causing disease and pain in the mouth from swollen gums and loosening of teeth, and release toxins into the bloodstream which can damage major organs.

At Crown Vets we have a dedicated dental suite where dental health is assessed and treated using the latest equipment. We use modern and safe anaesthetics tailored to your pet's procedure which is constantly monitored by a registered veterinary nurse to make their recovery as comfortable and rapid as possible.

  • Complete oral exam and dental charting allows you to visualise treatment undertaken and our recommendations
  • A dedicated dental x-ray machine to let us examine inside teeth and underneath the gums
  • Surgical extraction of multi-rooted using the latest dental equipment and techniques
  • Ultrasonic scaling above and below the gumline to remove tartar and plaque
  • Inclusive 3 and 10-day post-procedure checkups to monitor progress and to give advice on homecare

Our Most Common Question:

My pet’s teeth don’t look that bad to me, and he/she is still eating, so why is a dental being recommended by the vet/nurse?

Oral diseases (including dental and periodontal disease) represent some of the most common and important health issues affecting pets in the UK and Europe. Effective treatment is an important part of healthcare. A professional dental examination and cleaning (“scaling and polishing”) forms an essential part of treatment.

Dental disease can lead to unrelenting pain and unchecked infection, create immunological and physiological stress, cause serious local and systemic diseases, and prevent natural behavioral expression. Behavioral changes due to oral pain can be vague and non-specific and rarely result in loss of appetite.

Periodontal disease (inflammation and/or infection of the tissue that support teeth) is by far the number one health problem in small animals. By two years of age, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is grossly underdiagnosed and may also be the most undertreated disease in our patients.

Periodontal infections have been linked to numerous systemic illnesses including:

  • Diabetes mellitus (diabetes)
  • Heart, lung, liver, and kidney disease
  • Early mortality (link between periodontal disease and distant cancers such as gastrointestinal, kidney, pancreatic and blood cancers)

Periodontal disease has been associated with numerous severe local effects including:

  • Oronasal fistula (an abnormal opening between the mouth and nose)
  • Oral cancer
  • Pathological mandibular fractures (a fracture of the jaw that occurs when the bone is weakened by an underlying condition)
  • Ocular (eye) infection that can lead to blindness
  • Bone infection

Staged Veterinary Dentistry

What is Staged Veterinary Dentistry?

Staged veterinary dentistry is a comprehensive approach to dental care for pets, particularly those with advanced dental issues. This method involves breaking down the dental treatment process into multiple stages, allowing for thorough evaluation, treatment, and recovery time.

  • Why is dental care important for pets?
  • What to expect during Staged Dental Treatment
  • Benefits of Staged Veterinary Dentistry
  • Caring for your pet’s teeth at home

Why is dental care important for pets?

  • Prevention of Pain: Dental disease causes significant pain and discomfort.
  • Overall Health: Oral health is linked to the health of other organs, such as the heart and kidneys. Bacteria from dental disease can enter the bloodstream and affect these organs.
  • Quality of Life: Healthy teeth and gums contribute to overall well-being and better eating habits.

What to expect during Staged Dental Treatment

Most pets only require stage one and stage two.

1. Stage One: Cleaning and Evaluation

  • General anaesthetic is used to ensure your pet is comfortable and pain-free.
  • Professional dental cleaning is performed (scale and polish).
  • We will evaluate each tooth and surrounding tissues for signs of disease, including full-mouth dental x-rays.
  • Minor extractions might be done during stage one.
  • We will discuss the findings with you and if your pet requires more extractions, we will schedule stage two.

2. Stage Two: Treatment Planning

  • General anaesthetic is used to ensure your pet is comfortable and pain-free.
  • Surgical extractions will be done during stage two.

3. Stage Three: Follow-Up Treatments

  • General anaesthetic is used to ensure your pet is comfortable and pain-free.
  • Additional surgical extractions may be scheduled based on the evaluation.

4. Post-Operative Care

  • You will receive instructions on post-operative care, including pain management and dietary recommendations.
  • Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to monitor your pet’s recovery and oral health.

Benefits of Staged Veterinary Dentistry

  • Comprehensive Care: Allows for thorough evaluation and treatment of dental issues.
  • Minimized Stress: Breaking treatment into stages reduces the stress on your pet and allows for better recovery.
  • Tailored Approach: Each stage can be adjusted based on your pet's specific needs and response to treatment.

Caring for your pet’s teeth at home

  • Regular Brushing: Brush your pet’s teeth regularly with a pet-safe toothpaste.
  • Dental Chews and Toys: Provide dental chews and toys that promote oral health.
  • Routine Check-ups: Schedule regular veterinary dental check-ups to monitor oral health.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions about staged veterinary dentistry or your pet's dental health, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our veterinary team or have a look at some of our FAQs below.

We’re here to help ensure your pet maintains a healthy and happy smile!

FAQ's

  • The main reason for this is to prevent your pet from being under anaesthesia for an excessively long period of time. The charting, scale and polish, and full mouth x-rays (i.e. Stage I) can take up to one hour alone.

     

    Extended anaesthetics can lead to low blood pressure issues (hypotension), as well as the development of a reduced body temperature (hypothermia), both of which can be harmful to your pet’s anaesthetic safety and recovery.

     

    It also allows for proper planning of the required oral surgery, rather than unexpected diseases being identified during dental radiography, and these having to be addressed immediately. Performing Stage II on a separate day allows the oral surgery to be performed in a cleaner environment, rather than immediately after the descaling process.

     

    Two planned, shorter procedures increase the likelihood of smoother and timelier recoveries at both stages.

  • No, we have structured our dentistry fees so that the price paid is the same as it would have been if charged under one sitting. However, the staging process allows us to properly estimate for what is involved.

     

    Historically we would have called you during your pet’s anaesthetic to seek verbal permission for extractions, as well as the additional costs that this would incur.

     

    You would then have a much larger bill to pay at the time of discharge than that which you had originally estimated, which we don’t think is fair.

     

    The staging process seeks to avoid this, so that the price estimated is as close as possible to the price that you are charged.

  • If your pet can receive one anaesthetic, then there is no reason why they shouldn’t be able to cope with a second (or third).

     

    The premedication and anaesthetic combinations that we use are selected specifically for your pet, based on their individual health needs.

     

    Furthermore, every pet’s anaesthetic is closely monitored by trained professionals, as well as electronic multiparameter anaesthetic monitoring equipment.

     

    In all cases, consideration must be given to the risks and benefits. However, in the case of dental disease, then the benefits often outweigh the risks.

     

    Two shorter planned anaesthetics are certainly much safer than one excessively long one, especially when dealing with a chronic problem which is elective as opposed to being an emergency.

  • A second procedure is required because the dental x-rays have revealed diseased teeth/roots/jawbone.

     

    Without appropriate action, the disease processes will continue, and ongoing dental disease and infection will persist.

     

    More importantly, dental disease is painful, and without appropriate action your pet will continue to live with a chronically painful mouth.

  • ...and require my pet to have an anaesthetic?

     

    The goal of veterinary dentistry is to diagnose and treat dental diseases. General anaesthetic is required for it to be safe, stressless and medically beneficial. Subgingival (below the gums) scaling is the most important part of “teeth cleaning”.

     

    See here for further information.

  • Once the Stage II procedure is complete and all the oral disease is under control, then the process doesn’t stop there.

     

    Ongoing home dental care and routine check-ups are essential to maintain your pet’s mouth, gums, and remaining teeth in as healthy a state as possible.

     

    Twice daily tooth brushing with pet toothpaste is the Gold Standard, as plaque begins to accumulate within 24 hours of being removed.

     

    Regular nurse appointments are recommended after a dental procedure, to ensure that success is being achieved, and to help and offer advice if problems are starting to return.

     

    The first appointment should initially be 3-4 weeks after completion of the final Stage II post op check.

     

    Thereafter, we will recommend seeing your pet every 3-6 months so that future oral health is monitored and maintained.

  • ........another dental is being recommended. Why didn’t the procedure work last year?

     

    A dental procedure can address the diseases present at that moment in time, but it is not a protective measure against future disease.

     

    Active post-operative dental homecare is the only way that this can be achieved.

  • Without appropriate actions then your pet will unfortunately continue to be in pain and be at risk of systemic infections and compromised health.

  • This depends on the terms and conditions of your pet’s insurance policy, but it is certainly worth checking.

     

    Some insurance providers offer a pre-authorisation service, where they will confirm whether costs will be covered before treatment is undertaken. So, this can be performed if you are concerned about the costs and wish to know beforehand if they will be covered.

     

    In cases where costs will not be covered by your pet’s insurance provider, an alternative finance option is Carefree Credit.

     

    Please ask us if you have any additional questions about costs and payment.