Full Dental Care

Tandem Veterinary Clinic in Somerville provides comprehensive dental care performed by licensed veterinarians using digital dental radiography and modern anesthesia protocols. Every dental procedure includes a full oral examination under anesthesia, complete dental charting, ultrasonic scaling above and below the gum line, polishing, and fluoride treatment. Our veterinarians use digital x-rays to identify hidden problems like tooth root abscesses and bone loss that aren't visible during awake exams, ensuring we address all dental disease before it progresses.

All dogs and cats benefit from regular dental care. Pets with visible tartar, bad breath, red gums, difficulty eating, or no previous dental cleaning are strong candidates. Small breed dogs, brachycephalic breeds, and senior pets are especially prone to dental disease. Annual dental exams help determine when professional cleaning is needed.

Dental disease is the most common health problem in dogs and cats, affecting over 80% of pets by age three. What starts as plaque buildup quickly hardens into tartar, creating pockets between teeth and gums where bacteria thrive. These bacteria cause painful infections, tooth loss, and chronic inflammation—but the damage doesn't stop in the mouth.

Oral bacteria enter the bloodstream through diseased gums and travel to major organs. Studies show a direct link between periodontal disease and heart disease, kidney disease, and liver damage in pets. Professional dental care prevents this cascade by removing disease before it spreads, significantly improving both quality of life and lifespan.

Unlike human dentistry where patients can open wide and sit still, veterinary dental care requires general anesthesia to be done safely and thoroughly. This allows veterinarians to clean below the gum line where most disease lives, take diagnostic x-rays, and address problems without causing fear or pain.

A comprehensive veterinary dental procedure is far more involved than just scraping visible tartar. It begins with pre-anesthetic bloodwork to ensure your pet can safely undergo anesthesia. Once under anesthesia with full monitoring, the veterinarian performs a tooth-by-tooth examination, checking for fractures, mobility, gum recession, and abnormalities that aren't visible during awake exams.

Digital dental x-rays are critical because 60% of tooth structure lies below the gum line. X-rays reveal root abscesses, bone loss, retained roots, and other hidden problems that could cause pain and infection even after cleaning. Based on findings, the veterinarian may recommend extractions or other procedures—always with client approval before proceeding.

The cleaning itself involves ultrasonic scaling to remove tartar above and below the gum line, followed by polishing to smooth tooth surfaces and slow future buildup. The entire process takes 45-90 minutes depending on disease severity. Pets receive pain medication and go home the same day with instructions for recovery and home dental care.

Small breed dogs, brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced), and cats are prone to dental disease due to tooth crowding and genetics. However, all pets benefit from regular dental care starting in young adulthood. Veterinarians assess oral health during annual wellness exams and recommend professional cleaning when tartar buildup, gingivitis, or other problems are detected.

Warning signs that dental disease has progressed include persistent bad breath, visible tartar (yellow-brown coating), red or bleeding gums, difficulty chewing, dropping food, excessive drooling, and facial swelling. However, many pets continue eating normally despite severe dental pain—they're hardwired to hide weakness. Don't wait for obvious symptoms; preventive care catches disease early when treatment is simpler and less costly.

Between professional cleanings, home dental care makes a significant difference. Daily tooth brushing with pet-safe toothpaste is the gold standard, but dental chews, water additives, and prescription diets also help control plaque. Even with excellent home care, most pets still need periodic professional cleanings to address buildup below the gum line.

Pet owners often worry about anesthesia risk, especially for older animals. Modern veterinary anesthesia is remarkably safe when proper protocols are followed. Pre-anesthetic bloodwork screens for kidney, liver, and other organ problems that could affect anesthesia metabolism. IV fluids maintain blood pressure and support organ function during the procedure. Continuous monitoring of heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, and temperature ensures immediate response to any changes.

The risk of anesthesia must be weighed against the risk of untreated dental disease. For senior pets, chronic oral infection and pain often pose greater health threats than a well-managed anesthetic event. Veterinarians assess each patient individually and modify protocols for high-risk cases—using safer drug combinations, additional monitoring, or pre-procedure stabilization when needed.

Anesthesia-free dental cleanings marketed by some groomers and non-veterinary providers are not recommended by veterinary dentistry specialists. These procedures only remove visible tartar while leaving disease below the gum line untreated, creating a cosmetically clean appearance that masks ongoing infection. Without x-rays and subgingival cleaning, the majority of dental disease goes unaddressed.