Pet Oral Surgery and Ultrasonic Cleaner

Veterinarians perform a preliminary dental examination before conducting oral surgery with ultrasonic cleaners. Then, veterinarians conduct bloodwork to determine whether anesthesia is safe for your pet. Another anesthesia-assisted dental exam provides more insights into your pet’s teeth. If pet dentists suspect disease, they may conduct dental X-rays to understand better your pet’s oral health. Dental X-rays are provided at our Westwood location.

Ultrasonic cleaning uses a handheld instrument called a scaler designed specifically for dogs’ and cats’ teeth. You might hear the procedure also referred to as ultrasonic scaling. Before applying the scaler, pet dentists remove larger pieces of tartar with a separate instrument. This helps speed up the process.

Next, they move the scaler gently across the teeth and just below the gum line. The vibrations that the scaler generates will remove plaque and tarter. Other tools can also help remove plaque and tartar below the gum line. The process will be longer if tartar buildup is especially heavy. Pet dentists will apply water before scaling to reduce the possibility of enamel or gum damage.

After removing excess plaque and tartar with soft cotton gauze, pet dentists can then perform oral surgery, as necessary. They might conduct extractions to remove diseased or problematic teeth or stitch the gums. Once these procedures are complete, they can polish the teeth and examine the gums for pockets. If pockets are present, they will apply an antibiotic to restore the gums. Any other abnormalities are added to your pet’s dental record for continuous monitoring.