FAQ’s


Will My Pet Cooperate?
Most pets cooperate perfectly fine. The hygienist is trained in handling the pet and is able to calm them while cleaning their teeth. We use Bach flowers, aromatherapy and acupressure points to help calm your pet. We take our time and introduce your pet to the teeth cleaning procedure.
How Often Should I Come In?
It depends on the breed and the build-up on the teeth. It is usually recommended at least every 6 months to a year. Smaller dogs may even need their teeth cleaned every three months, while some larger dogs may need them done less than once per year. We recommend as soon as you start seeing buildup again to have them re-cleaned. Leaving large amounts of bacteria in your pet’s mouth can lead to other health issues.
Can I Watch the Procedure?
You can stay and watch but usually your pet behaves better when you are out of their visual sight.
How Do You Do the Procedure?
Your pet lies on the floor on a dog bed with their head in our lap. Small dogs and cats are wrapped in a towel to make them feel more secure. We hand scale their teeth with dental instruments just like when you go to your hygienist. All the teeth are cleaned inside and out and under the gumline. When we are done scaling we polish the teeth. You receive a report card telling you what we were able to see during the dental.

When we examine your pet’s mouth if we immediately find problems which need your veterinarian’s attention, example- teeth which need to be extracted, we will refer you back to your doctor to have a dental under anesthesia and there will be no charge. If during the dental we find any problems, we will put the information on your report card so you can discuss any further action with your own veterinarian.
Do you use sterile tools?
Yes, we sterilize all our tools, and we use a different scaler on every animal.
My Veterinarian says this method does not get the dog’s teeth as clean?
All the teeth are cleaned inside and out and re-polished. Your animal’s teeth will be as clean as with a dental while under anesthesia. We are unable to take x-rays while your pet is awake so we can never see what is going on under the gum line. We offer you an option for a great maintenance dental so you can keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy at all times.
Can our hygienist’s perform a cleaning on every dog?
No, while we can clean the vast majority of dogs and cats there are some for whom it is not appropriate. Examples would be pets with severe gingivitis, caries, fractured teeth, abscesses, stomatitis, tumors etc. Whenever our hygienists discover loose or fractured teeth, tumors, gum disease, or any other condition that needs your veterinarian’s intervention, they will write the information down for you so you can bring it to your veterinarian’s attention. Our goal is to provide you with the best dental care possible for your pets.
Can you use this method on older patients?
Yes, non-anesthetic dentals can be done on pets with chronic kidney, liver or heart disease who might not be a good candidate for a dental under anesthesia.
Does eating dry dog food clean your pet’s teeth?
No – This is a myth. In general a dog needs to spend time chewing to clean the teeth. Examples of this would be raw meaty bones, and bully sticks.