Dentistry

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 70% of adult cats and 80% of adult dogs show symptoms of oral disease.
Your pet’s oral health assessment, treatment, and prevention (oral ATP) start with periodic assessments from our veterinarians. Do not wait until your pet’s breath becomes unbearable. By that time, your pet’s condition may be painful and/or infected. Much of the disease will be irreversible requiring extractions and oral surgery to provide relief.

Pet dental care you can rely on.

Our dentistry suite may rival your dentist’s office. We have digital dental radiography and computerized dental charting software for dogs and cats. Ultrasonic scalars, low and high-speed drills, along with oral surgery packs provide our doctors with the tools they need to ensure your pet’s oral care is done correctly. Our veterinarians are capable general practitioners who have attended additional training to perform dentistry and oral surgery.

Get to the root of the problem.

In order to fully understand the extent and treat oral disease, it is imperative that each pet is anesthetized. It is impossible to provide correct medical care to a pet without sedation. It is estimated that over 60% of disease pathology lies beneath the gum. To only address the visible calculus is a cosmetic fix and does not address or resolve your pet’s true dental problems and pain.

Thorough exploration to discover the best treatment method.

Your pet’s teeth are cleaned thoroughly with an ultrasonic scalar by a veterinary technician. Then, each tooth in your pet’s mouth is probed and charted. All teeth are radiographed to further identify the disease process. Using this information, the veterinarian will decide on a treatment plan and proceed as you have instructed on our surgical consent form.

Pain-free tooth removal.

If a tooth requires oral surgery, a nerve block is performed to anesthetize the tooth and allow for extended pain relief following the oral surgery. Surgical tooth extraction involves the creation of a gingival flap to expose the roots of the tooth. With a high-speed dental drill, the tooth roots are individually separated and then extracted. After the crown and roots are surgically removed, the gingival flap is closed with dissolvable suture material.

Every precaution is taken to ensure your pet’s safety.

At Gateway Veterinary Clinic, prior to the Oral ATP, each pet is examined by a veterinarian. Preanesthetic bloodwork results are evaluated to assess your pet’s overall health. An IV Catheter is placed, and fluids are run to help keep your pet hydrated during the procedure. Pain medication and sedative are administered before placing your pet on general gas anesthesia. After placing them on a heated water blanket, digital monitors are applied to track your pet’s heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, body temperature, and blood oxygen levels.

Treatment continues outside of our doors.

Pets undergoing oral surgery may go home with antibiotics and pain medication if the doctor sees fit. Comprehensive discharge instructions, pictures of radiographs and pre/ post procedure pictures are sent home with each patient at the release appointment with a technician. All patients receiving oral surgery are scheduled a complementary recheck exam in 10-14 days.

Prevent future issues with our help.

Following every oral ATP, a veterinary technician will make recommendations on how to maintain your pet’s oral health. Brushing teeth once daily with a pet-approved toothpaste is the gold standard. However, if that is not realistic, we will discuss options such as rinses, dental chews, and diets to decrease future plaque and tartar buildup in your pet’s mouth.

Your preferred Saint Charles veterinarian!

Our clients are friends as well as customers. We value their continued trust and goodwill. Courtesy and patience with clients and their pets are our highest priority.

We’re here for your pet.

Our Address

3225 W Main St.
Saint Charles, IL 60175
Click here for directions.

Our Schedule

Mon - Fri: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat: 7:30 am - 1:00 pm
Closed on Sundays and Major Holidays

Contact Us

Have questions? We’re here to help!

 

Please complete the form below and a member of our team will respond as quickly as possible. If you wish to schedule an appointment or have an urgent question or problem please call us at 630-377-6660.