Q. Do you book consultations for pets for dental cleanings and what type of information would I gain?
A. Yes, though not required to book a cleaning service, we can do a consultation for $150 cash only, no refunds and consultations are available through walk-in only during our "In-Clinic" hours. Hours of operation can be found by clicking "Our Schedule" from the home page of our website. Again, we do not schedule appointments for this service. The information you would receive in a consultation would be no different than the information you would receive from having your pet's teeth cleaned. During a consultation, our veterinarian would get all of your pet's information, a tech would then take your pet back to their work station. The technician would use similar techniques as the cleaning process to access your pet's mouth. We would document a complete evaluation of your pet's mouth, including a score for tartar, plaque, gingivitis, perio pockets, overall oral health, detect and document loose/mobile teeth, fractures and any dental diseases will be noted. All will be provided on a digital dental chart to be emailed to you and we will go over any findings with the owner and make recommendations based off of those findings.
Q. Are you hiring?
A. We are always accepting applications for Veterinarians and Pet Dental Technicians. You may go to our contact page and inquire in writing.
Q. I just need extractions. Is this something that your service offers?
A. Yes, we offer extractions for very loose teeth only, usually those that we believe may abscess or become infected. However, we must clean the teeth first to insure there will be minimal to no bacteria remaining in the mouth that can cause infection.
Q. What if my pet requires extractions?
A. We will determine if extractions are necessary on the day of service. With your consent, we will extract teeth on the same day. Our veterinarian will only extract very loose teeth, usually those that we believe may abscess or become infected. This is not discussion that we can have without seeing exactly what is going on in the mouth. If you have concerns about potential loose teeth or you were told your pet may need extractions, it is recommended that you book an appointment so that we can make a thorough evaluation.
Q. Does my pet require lab work for this list?
A. No. Since we are not using anesthesia, lab work is not required.
Q. I'm concerned about the new respiratory virus found in some dogs. What do you do to protect my pet against this?
A. We do not house pets. We do not mingle pets. We use sterile tools on each pet to prevent cross contamination. All cages are cleaned between pets. Please read the following articles by Will Falconer, D.V.M. and this one by Doc Jones, D.V.M.
Q. How long does a Non-Anesthetic Dental Cleaning take?
A. For cats and dogs, the "First Time" dental cleaning can take anywhere from 20-60 minutes. Smaller pets can take between 20 and 30 minutes. Larger pets can take 30 to 60 minutes, depending on when we last saw your pet or if it's the "First Time", depending amount of tartar and plaque build-up.
Q. Do I need to bring any paperwork?
A. No
Q. Do I need to arrive early?
A. Please arrive at your appointment time or up to 5 minutes prior.
Q. Do you remove tartar/calculus?
A. Yes
Q. What if my pet has an infection?
A. If we find that your pet has an infection, our veterinarian will decide if antibiotics are appropriate or if your pet need more attention, they'll recommend an anesthetic dental.
Q. Do you do a deep cleaning?
A. Yes
Q. Do you clean the teeth on the insides?
A. Yes, we clean all aspects of every tooth.
Q. How do I book an appointment?
A. Click here to book an appointment
Q. Will it hurt?
A. All dental cleanings can feel a bit uncomfortable at times but no more uncomfortable than when you have your own teeth cleaned by your hygienist. Even that level of comfort may vary from person to person just as it may vary from pet to pet. We are always aware of your pet’s comfort level and may offer breaks if we can see that your pet is becoming sore or showing signs of discomfort. If you pet is crying, extra wiggly or aggressive; we may offer sedation with your permission to keep your pet calm for the cleaning so that we may achieve the best results for your pet’s oral health.
Q. Do you use novocaine on my pet’s gums?
A. No. Most pets tolerate the cleaning without any noticeable pain. If we notice any signs of pain, we stop the dental request permission to offer sedation to allow your pet get through the procedure free of pain.
Q. Do you use fluoride on my pet’s teeth?
A. No, we use an organic holistic paste and oral rinse that is safe for pets.
Q. Can you tell me how frequently my pet should be seen for a dental cleaning?
A. The usual standard is 1-2 times per year. All pets have a different genetic make up and different oral issues so without first seeing your pet and knowing your pet’s medical history and existing oral health, it is difficult to know for sure what would be the best frequency. We also would need to do an initial cleaning to establish a point of reference for future cleanings.
Q. What is your process?
A. See our process
Q. Is there any recovery time?
A. Only if your pet is sedated will there be some recovery time. The on-site DVM usually suggests letting your pet sleep off the sedative which may take 1-2 hours or more for larger or heavier pets. Do not try to walk them or allow them near any other animals until they are fully recovered. Recovery time may vary from pet to pet.
Q. How good of a cleaning is it?
A. The dental cleaning we provide is very thorough, in fact, identical to any dental cleaning service provided under anesthesia, except we do not use anesthesia. We clean all surfaces/aspects of each tooth, above and below the gum-line. All teeth are machine polished to smooth out the surface of the enamel.
Q. Do you provide X-Rays?
A. We do not because we believe that most of the pathology is visible, however, from time to time we do refer our pets for X-Rays and emergency dental services with their regular DVM if our DVM finds something of concern that is beyond our scope of practice.
Q. Why do Animal Hospitals charge so much for a cleaning?
A. We can not answer for why animal hospitals charge so much but we can only assume that their overhead is astronomical. Often they will charge for the following: office visit/exam, X-Rays, anesthesia, intubation, I.V., pain medication, extractions, prophylaxis, antibiotics and on and on depending on the nature of the service.
Q. Does my pet need antibiotics before/after treatment?
A. At SCPD we believe that the use and over use of antibiotics is harmful to your pet. That being said, we do not usually recommend the use of antibiotics unless there is severe infection present which our DVM will determine during the cleaning.
Q. Is it customary to leave a tip?
A. While we appreciate tips, we do not expect them. We charge a fair market price for our services and prices may vary and may increase due to increase in overhead, or inflation. The average annual inflation is approximately 3%. One way to minimize our overhead is to pay in cash as card processing fees are astronomical.
If you have any other questions not listed here please contact us: info@southcoastpetdentals.com
