Pet Dentist and Veterinary Dental Care in Burke & Springfield, VA
Oral health is very important for all of us, including our dogs and cats.
At Burke Forest, we take pet dental care very seriously. During each wellness visit, the doctor will perform a nose to tail physical. We will discuss your pets oral health with you. Our doctors may recommend a dental treatment immediately if there is an infection, a broken tooth, or other oral concern. If tartar or gingivitis is noted, we will recommend a dental treatment at the earliest convenience for the owner.
A dental cleaning for a dog or cat is very similar to your own, except our pets are placed under general anesthesia. With anesthesia there are always risks, and at Burke Forest Veterinary Clinic we believe in doing everything medically possible to reduce these risks. That is why our dental treatments include pre-anesthetic bloodwork, IV catheter, IV fluids, anesthesia, close anesthetic monitoring by a technician, FULL MOUTH RADIOGRAPHS (like bite wings done at your dentist), dental scaling, and polishing.
If diseased teeth are found at the time of the treatment, the doctor will make the best medical decision. For some teeth, this includes extractions (removing them). Other treatments may include an antibiotic gel placed around the roots. All dental work is priced affordably as we understand that cost is often a concern.
Maintaining Your Pet’s Optimal Oral Health
- Dental Consult: If you and your pet have not seen one of our doctors before, or have not been seen recently, we ask that you and your pet come in for a dental consult prior to scheduling a dental procedure.
- Oral Exam: The dental consult allows our doctors to do a comprehensive oral exam to get a better understanding of the level of tartar, damage to the tooth, and level of dental disease.
- Treatment Estimates: After we have completed the dental consult and oral exam, we can create a more individualized estimate for the procedure.
View Our Adoption Spotlight
Have a Question?
Pet Dentistry FAQs
Food particles and bacteria on teeth form tartar, which then causes gum infection. Over time, bacteria from infected gums can spread throughout your pet’s body, affecting vital organs such as the heart and kidneys.
We use an ultrasonic scaling machine to remove tartar and then a polisher to remove any fine scratches which may have developed.
If teeth are damaged or the periodontal disease is severe, we recommend thorough treatments including extractions. We understand the owner's emotional decision when deciding to extract teeth; however, your pet will be more comfortable following the procedure when it is necessary.
We will prescribe antibiotics or pain medications when appropriate. In most cases dental procedures improve the quality of life for your pet.