Pet Dentistry

Pet dentistry at Chicopee Hills Animal Hospital in Kitchener, ON, helps dogs and cats maintain healthier teeth, gums, and overall comfort. Our veterinarians provide comprehensive oral health assessments, dental cleanings, digital dental radiographs, and treatment recommendations under carefully monitored anesthesia.

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A technician in a black shirt and face mask adjusts a large medical instrument on a dog lying on a red blanket while monitors in the background display patient readings.

What is Pet Dentistry?

Dental disease is common in pets, and many dogs and cats do not show obvious signs of discomfort. A comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment, often called a COHAT, is performed under general anesthesia. This allows our veterinary team to X-ray the entire mouth, probe each individual tooth fully, clean the teeth, evaluate below the gumline, and treat painful or unhealthy teeth when needed.

Oral Examination

Each tooth and the surrounding gingiva are probed for pocket depth and inspected for inflammation, damage, infection, resorptive lesions, fractures, or other abnormalities.

Dental Cleaning

Professional cleaning removes plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces and below the gumline, where periodontal disease often begins.

Dental Polishing

After scaling, teeth are polished to smooth the enamel surface and help slow future plaque buildup.

Dental Radiographs

Digital dental X-rays allow our veterinarians to assess tooth roots and the surrounding bone hidden below the gumline. X-rays are essential because more than half of each tooth sits below the gumline, where it can’t be seen.

Tooth Extractions

If a tooth is painful, damaged, infected, or no longer supported by healthy tissue, extraction may be recommended.

Anesthesia Monitoring

Dental procedures are performed under general anesthesia with monitoring by a veterinarian and a Registered Veterinary Technician. Our experienced team not only performs general anesthesia on healthy patients, we do general anesthesia on higher-risk patients as well. All patients deserve a pain-free mouth.

Home Care Guidance

Our RVTs can discuss tooth brushing, dental diets, and home care routines to help slow tartar buildup between professional cleanings.

Schedule a Dental Assessment

A person kneels indoors and gently holds a black dog, petting it while facing a grooming counter with shelves of bottles and supplies in the background.

Why Dental Disease Matters

Periodontal disease is inflammation or infection of the gums and supporting tissues around the teeth. Gingivitis, the earliest stage, can be reversible when treated early. If disease progresses, it can damage the ligaments and bone supporting the tooth and may affect whole-body health as bacteria enter the bloodstream.

Hidden Pain

Pets may continue eating despite oral pain, fractured teeth, gum inflammation, loose teeth, or infection.

Whole Health

Untreated dental disease can contribute to bacteria entering the bloodstream and may affect organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys.

What to Expect Before Dentistry

One to two weeks before your pet’s COHAT, a pre-operative exam and blood work help assess whether your pet is a good candidate for anesthesia. Your pet may receive oral sedation to reduce stress before admission. On procedure day, our veterinary team provides anesthesia, monitoring, cleaning, radiographs, treatment, recovery care, and discharge instructions. If you are comparing oral care options, review our cosmetic dental cleanings page.

A close-up of a black and tan dog looking up at the camera with its mouth open, showing clean white teeth and pink gums.

Pet Dentistry FAQs

These FAQs answer common questions about pet dentistry at Chicopee Hills Animal Hospital.

What are signs of dental disease in pets?

Signs of dental disease may include bad breath, drooling, pawing at the mouth, head shaking, dropping food, reluctance to chew toys, visible tartar, red gums, or changes in appetite. However, many pets hide oral pain, so regular dental assessments are important even when a dog or cat seems normal.

Why does my pet need dental radiographs?

Dental radiographs help Chicopee Hills Animal Hospital assess the roots and surrounding bone below the gumline. More than half of each tooth is hidden beneath the gums, so X-rays are essential for finding painful or serious dental problems that cannot be seen during a surface exam.

Why is anesthesia used for pet dental cleanings?

General anesthesia allows a complete and safe oral assessment, cleaning below the gumline, dental probing, radiographs, and treatment when needed. It also helps protect the airway and allows our veterinarian and RVT to monitor your pet closely throughout the procedure and recovery.

How can I care for my pet’s teeth at home?

Daily tooth brushing is the best way to slow plaque buildup at home. Dental diets may also help when fed as directed. Our Registered Veterinary Technicians can show you how to introduce tooth brushing to your cat or dog during a visit.

Will my pet need tooth extractions?

Extractions are recommended only when a tooth is damaged, infected, painful, or no longer supported by healthy tissue. If dental radiographs and oral examination show that a tooth cannot be saved, our veterinarian will discuss treatment recommendations with you during the dental procedure.