Dental Health
Dentistry & oral care.
In brief
Our pets’ teeth deserve the same care that we give our own teeth.
Oral health
Why dental care matters.
At Bonnie Mara Animal Hospital, we care deeply about your pet’s oral health. Besides causing pain and bad breath, periodontal disease can be unhealthy for your pet’s heart, liver and kidneys.
In addition, dogs and cats will rarely let you know when their mouths are hurting. After an awake oral exam—part of every physical exam—we’ll let you know if we’re concerned about your pet’s dental health, and may recommend a dental procedure under general anesthesia.
Proper dental care helps prevent plaque and tartar buildup, keeps your pet’s teeth and gums healthy, and contributes to a good quality of life—and we’ll help you keep up the routine at home, too.
By age 3nearly all pets are affected by periodontal disease
The hidden threat
Periodontal disease.
It begins when sticky plaque coats the teeth and hardens into tartar, allowing bacteria to accumulate and inflame the gums. Left untreated, it progresses and causes pain, tooth loss, and difficulty eating or playing. Bacteria from infected gum tissue can even leak into the bloodstream and affect important organs, including the heart.
Our approach
What a dental visit involves.
When oral home care is not enough, an anesthetized dental procedure—a complete oral health assessment and treatment—is the next step. It’s a procedure done safely under general anesthesia, and it’s how we find and treat what an awake exam simply can’t reach. Here’s what’s involved.
Dental examination
We inspect your pet’s teeth and gums for plaque, tartar, gum disease, broken or loose teeth, and other oral problems. This awake oral exam is part of every physical exam. If we’re concerned about your pet’s dental health, we’ll talk with you about a dental procedure.
Dental X-rays
Most tooth problems occur below the gum line, where you can’t see them. Intra-oral (dental) X-rays reveal each tooth’s entire structure, including the root—catching abscesses, bone loss, tooth resorption, and unerupted teeth. We create a dental chart for your pet at the same time, so we can track what changes over the years.
Dental cleaning
Your pet’s teeth are scaled and polished above and below the gum line, and a sealant is applied to reduce plaque build-up. Our veterinarian performs a comprehensive oral exam—gently and thoroughly.
Dental surgery
If we discover a problem during the procedure, additional treatment can be performed before your pet wakes up from anesthesia. This may include dental extractions, bonded sealants of partially fractured teeth, root planing of deep pockets, Periovive hyaluronic acid treatment, guided tissue regeneration to help treat periodontal disease, or oral mass removal. Nerve blocks and injectable pain medication keep your pet comfortable throughout their stay.
Three sets of eyes, one patient
Each time a pet is anesthetized for a dental procedure at Bonnie Mara Animal Hospital, two dedicated veterinary technicians or skilled assistants are focused solely on your pet—alongside the veterinarian. One assists with the oral exam, dental X-rays, cleaning and polishing, or advanced oral procedures. The other does nothing but constantly monitor your pet’s depth of anesthesia and chart their vitals. All care is directly overseen by the veterinarian, and any extractions or oral surgery are always performed by the veterinarian.
The full list
Dental procedures offered here.
Everything below is performed at Bonnie Mara Animal Hospital. Where a term is clinical, we’ve added a plain-English note so you can follow what it means for your pet.
Oral exam
Dental charting
Intra-oral (dental) X-rays
Cleaning and polishing teeth
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SANOS dental sealant
A barrier applied at the gumline that helps slow plaque from returning.
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Periovive (hyaluronic acid) treatment
Supports healing of inflamed gum tissue and bone.
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Intra-oral long and short acting nerve blocks
Local anesthetic, so the mouth is numb during the procedure and after.
Extractions
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Bonded sealants
Protecting a partially fractured tooth so it can be saved.
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Root planing
Deep cleaning below the gumline, where the majority of dental disease lies.
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Guided tissue regeneration
Helping bone and gum tissue grow back around a tooth worth saving.
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Gingivectomy
Removing overgrown or diseased gum tissue.
Oral mass removals
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Oronasal fistula repair
Closing an opening between the mouth and the nasal cavity.
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Full mouth extractions for feline stomatitis
For cats with severe, painful inflammation of the mouth.
Day of the procedure
What to expect the day of your pet’s dental procedure.
The day before
You’ll be contacted to discuss fasting instructions, as well as any medication instructions for the night before or the morning of the procedure.
Check-in
Please allow your pet ample time to eliminate before coming to your check-in appointment. You’ll have a 15–20 minute check-in with one of the surgery team, and then leave your pet with us.
While they’re with us
It’s important that you’re available by phone all day. If we need to discuss treatment options while your pet is under anesthesia, there isn’t any time wasted playing phone tag. You can expect your pet to remain with us for most of the day. Although the dental procedure itself may only be 45 minutes or so under anesthesia, we’ll be prepping your pet beforehand—lab tests, IV catheter placement, sedation to minimize stress and fear—and then carefully monitoring them for a few hours once they’re recovered.
Pick-up
We’ll go over their treatment with you, along with discharge instructions, any potential medication, and instructions on diet and oral home care. Your pet will still be a little groggy from the anesthesia, but will be up and walking. Larger dogs may need a little guidance getting in and out of the car.
That night
Some pets are ready to eat a small meal the night of their dental procedure; others may prefer to sleep the night away. If we anticipate any pain or stress, we’ll make sure you have everything you need so both you and your pet have a peaceful night.
Your pet’s safety
Safe anesthesia, always.
Every patient under anesthesia at Bonnie Mara has a protocol built around them, multi-modal medication, an IV catheter and fluids, and a technician whose only job is watching their vitals until they’re up and about.
Between visits
Care that continues at home.
At-home toothbrushing is the most effective way to maintain dental health between professional cleanings. Brushing daily with a pet-safe toothpaste and soft-bristled brush removes plaque, reduces harmful bacteria, and keeps your pet’s breath fresh.
Our team can
- Demonstrate brushing
- Share tips for helping pets acclimate
- Recommend safe, effective products — including options for pets who won’t accept brushing