Welcome To
Animal Dental Services
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We Specialize In
Veterinary Dentistry
Our veterinary dental office uses state-of-the-art anesthetic monitoring systems to provide us with continuous readings of the dog or cat's vital organ systems. These monitor the EKG, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, oxygen saturation, and amount of carbon dioxide exhaled. With these values, we can treat abnormalities before they can compromise the patient’s safety. Our clinic is also equipped with in-house blood machines that help evaluate a pet's vital organs prior to anesthesia.
We also have the opportunity to work with a Board-Certified Veterinary Anesthesiologist for your pet’s procedure.
Our Veterinary Services
Does my pet need a Dental Specialist?
Should your pet’s dental or oral condition be complex, unresponsive to interventions on the general practice level, or require specialized treatment/equipment unavailable at your family vet, a consult with a specialized veterinary dentist is typically recommended. Working in collaboration with your primary care veterinarian, a dental specialist can help give your pet the best chance of a full and lasting recovery.
What is a Veterinary Dental Specialist?
While most primary care veterinarians perform general dental examinations, teeth cleaning, and tooth extractions, a veterinary dental specialist is a veterinarian that has completed advanced residency training with targeted education and experience within the field of animal dentistry and oral surgery. In the United States, veterinary dentists who have completed all reviews and exams set forth by the American Veterinary Dental College earn the status of Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™ or Board Certified Equine Veterinary Dentist™. These doctors are often depicted with “DAVDC” after their name.
Pet dental specialists have the skills, knowledge, experience, and resources to tackle complex, acute, and chronic conditions of the teeth, gums, and jaw. They are the oral surgeons, endodontists, orthodontists, and periodontists of the veterinary world!
At Animal Dental Services, we offer anesthesia for all pet dental cleanings and other procedures. Anesthesia is always a concern for our clients and for our doctors. We practice the safest anesthetic procedures possible, and our doctors and technicians have had advanced training. We have two board-certified anesthesiologists available, by appointment, for high risk patients.
We strive to go beyond simply providing safe, general anesthesia for our dentistry and oral surgery patients, and for patients with significant medical illness or simply pet parents that want specialty anesthesia, we can then utilize the services of a veterinary anesthesia specialist. In these situations, a board-certified anesthesiologist can review your pet’s medical records, develop a plan to maximize anesthesia safety and comfort, and be available to discuss your concerns and our plans for your pet’s upcoming procedure. When possible, they will meet with you and your pet prior to anesthesia. Afterward, they will complete a thorough follow up to make sure pain is being adequately managed and your pet’s recovery is going smoothly. This process includes:
We strive to go beyond simply providing safe, general anesthesia for our dentistry and oral surgery patients, and for patients with significant medical illness or simply pet parents that want specialty anesthesia, we can then utilize the services of a veterinary anesthesia specialist. In these situations, a board-certified anesthesiologist can review your pet’s medical records, develop a plan to maximize anesthesia safety and comfort, and be available to discuss your concerns and our plans for your pet’s upcoming procedure. When possible, they will meet with you and your pet prior to anesthesia. Afterward, they will complete a thorough follow up to make sure pain is being adequately managed and your pet’s recovery is going smoothly. This process includes:
- A thorough pre-anesthetic physical examination
- Administration of advanced anesthetic and pain medications
- Intensive monitoring and support based on your pet's individual healthcare needs
- Individualized anesthesia and pain management protocols
- A Board Certified Anesthesiologist may be available for special cases
This area of dentistry deals with the diagnosis and treatment of teeth with restorations and prosthetic crowns to restore teeth to full, functional ability and esthetic appearance.
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a dog or cat's tooth - covering the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and/or to improve its appearance. The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
A dental crown may be needed for a dog or cat in the following situations:
- To protect a weak tooth from breaking
- To hold together parts of a cracked tooth
- To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down
- To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't a lot of the tooth left
- To cover misshaped or severely discolored teeth
Permanent crowns for dogs and cats can be made from all metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or all ceramic. The most used crowns for pets are metal crowns because they provide the most strength, durability, and protection.
Pet dental health care involves more than the portion of the tooth above the gum line. There is a great deal of anatomy that can't be seen without veterinary dental radiographs! Veterinary dental radiography, commonly called “x-rays”, is often used for diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up evaluation of a pet's dental health.
At Thrive Pet Healthcare, our dental specialists use digital X-ray sensors instead of traditional photographic film. Digital radiography provides many more benefits than traditional X-ray film, including:
- Provides immediate access to the image.
- Allows for digital measurements.
- Has the capability for contrast, brightness, or color to be adjusted to provide greater image clarity.
- Requires less radiation to produce an image than film radiography.
When performing digital dental x-rays, the digital sensor is placed into the mouth of the dog or cat, providing a clear and well-defined radiograph of the pet’s teeth and jaw. To ensure that these clear, readable images are obtained, the pet must be asleep under anesthesia.
Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of the pulp (the innermost layer of the tooth containing nerves and vessels). When the pulpal tissue is compromised and the vitality is destroyed, the tooth dies, and infection may occur. In these cases, endodontic treatment, such as root canal treatment, is necessary to preserve the teeth and prevent extraction.
Pet root canal treatment is a potential alternative to tooth extraction. This procedure removes the pulp of a tooth, thereby removing the nerves and the infected tissue. The aim of root canals is to remove the pain and infection inside the tooth and roots, allowing the tooth to remain inside the mouth. Crowns are typically recommended after a root canal is performed to help protect the teeth from further damage.
Cats can develop numerous dental diseases that affect their quality of life; most felines should receive annual professional dental cleanings. It is also recommended that cats receive dental radiographs (x-rays) with each professional teeth cleaning beginning at one year old. The most common conditions affecting cats’ dental health include:
- Feline Tooth Resorption: An extremely painful condition in which the dentin (the main structural component of the tooth) erodes, progressing to the surrounding tooth over time. Dental radiographs (x-rays) are required to properly evaluate this condition. Based on the level of disease, treatment may include complete extraction or crown amputation (removal of the remaining diseased tooth). Restoration of these teeth is not recommended.
- Feline Stomatitis: A severe inflammation or ulceration of the oral epithelium (the lining of the mouth) and is a debilitating disease for affected cats. Foul breath, difficulty in eating, and drooling are typical symptoms; large red sores may be visible. Stomatitis requires aggressive veterinary dental treatment. For most cats, extraction of most or all the teeth is the best option to bring relief. Cats that do not respond fully to complete extraction can often be managed by medical treatment as needed.
- Tooth Fractures: Any part of a cat’s tooth can be fractured, but the tip of canine teeth (fangs) in cats are most prone to fractures. Since the pulp chamber extends very close to the tip of the tooth in cats, even small fractures can expose the sensitive pulp tissue. This typically leads to infection and death of the pulp tissue (endodontic disease). Any fractured canine tooth in a cat, regardless of the extent of the fracture, should be inspected closely and radiographed to determine whether the pulp tissue is exposed. Based on the results of x-ray and clinical examination, the tooth can be treated with root canal therapy or extracted.
In addition to treating dental conditions—our doctors perform advanced oral maxillofacial surgeries (OMFS) such as tumor removals, fracture repairs, salivary gland surgery, and trauma reconstruction. We use many of the same diagnostic and sterile surgical treatment methods that human surgeons use, such as standard computed tomography (CT), cone beam CT, piezoelectric surgical units, and bone plating with titanium plates specially made for the oral maxillofacial region. In our Gilbert location, Dr. Balke is pursuing additional, advanced training in OMFS. This fellowship in veterinary OMFS destination is currently held by less than 30 veterinary OMFS fellows worldwide.
Orthodontics is the area of dentistry concerned with moving and correcting the position or alignment of teeth. Abnormal bites (malocclusions) can develop due to primary teeth being slow or failing to fall out, or because secondary teeth are slow to erupt. Malocclusions tend to be less common in cats than in dogs.
Malocclusions can develop during the transition from primary (puppy/kitten) to secondary (adult) teeth which can be painful for the affected pet without prompt treatment. The primary teeth need to be removed immediately to help avoid the development of severe malocclusions.
Depending on the extent of a pet’s periodontal disease, veterinary dental specialists may be able to save some of a dog's or cat's diseased teeth from extraction. Due to the advanced treatments available through a veterinary dental specialist, when periodontitis is present, treatment options may be employed to save the teeth. Teeth with gum recession, root exposure, or periodontal pockets may be candidates for periodontal surgery. Advanced periodontal procedures, such as gingival flap surgery and bone grafting, can be used to regenerate periodontal tissues and save teeth.
The pet patient’s overall health, the cost of specific treatments, and the pet owner’s willingness to provide daily oral hygiene at home are considered prior to performing periodontal therapy. Without diligent homecare to keep a pet's teeth clean between their annual vet dental cleanings, periodontal therapy will not be successful, and severely affected teeth will require extraction.
Broken or fractured teeth are a common finding in veterinary practices. Objects that are notorious for breaking pets’ teeth include cow hooves, real bones, rocks, ice, large-knotted rawhides, and hard plastic bones. If you suspect your pet has a broken tooth, we strongly recommend bringing them for an examination. If the fracture is large enough to expose the pulp canal (the center part of the tooth), the tooth will be acutely painful and can leave your pet at great risk of infection and abscess.
Resorbed teeth are when the dentin (the main structural component of the tooth) erodes, progressing to the surrounding tooth over time. Dental radiographs (X-rays) are required to properly evaluate this condition. Based on the level of disease, treatment may include complete extraction or crown amputation (removal of the remaining diseased tooth).
More About Us
For Clients & Referring Veterinarians
Client Information Form
At Animal Dental Services, we’re dedicated to providing the best care for your pet through clear communication with you. We work closely with your primary veterinarian to ensure your pet receives the highest quality dental care and stays healthy and happy.
Please fill out our Client Information Form ahead of your upcoming visit.
33.707175
-117.806498
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