Dental disease is one of the most common and most underestimated health concerns in dogs and cats. By age three, the majority of pets show measurable signs of periodontal disease, and most of that disease is happening below the gumline where it cannot be seen without dental radiography. Left unaddressed, dental disease causes chronic oral pain, tooth loss, and can contribute to changes in the heart, kidneys, and liver. At Universal Pet Hospital in Palo Alto, we provide comprehensive dental care for dogs and cats, from routine cleanings and digital dental X-rays to extractions and complex oral surgery performed by a visiting board-certified veterinary dental specialist. Pre-booking is required for specialist dental procedures. Call (650) 362-7969 to schedule a dental exam or cleaning.
Professional dental cleaning performed under general anesthesia is the gold standard for addressing periodontal disease and maintaining your pet's oral health. Cleaning a pet's teeth without anesthesia cannot achieve the necessary depth of scaling below the gumline and does not allow for safe, thorough examination of every tooth and surrounding tissue. Our dental cleanings include pre-anesthetic blood testing to confirm your pet is safe for anesthesia, IV catheter and fluid support throughout the procedure, full-mouth ultrasonic scaling to remove plaque and calculus above and below the gumline, tooth polishing, comprehensive periodontal probing to evaluate gum health at every tooth, fluoride application, and a detailed oral health report for your records. We currently offer dental cleanings starting at $850, which includes pre-anesthetic blood testing, IV catheter and fluids, scaling, polishing, probing, and fluoride. Dental X-rays, extractions, and take-home care items are additional and are recommended based on individual findings.
Digital dental radiography is one of the most important parts of a complete dental evaluation, and it is something many general practice clinics skip entirely. Studies consistently show that between 20 and 60 percent of significant dental pathology is found below the gumline, invisible to visual inspection alone. Digital dental X-rays allow us to assess tooth roots and surrounding bone, identify tooth resorption (a painful and very common condition in cats), evaluate unerupted teeth, detect root fractures, and measure the severity of periodontal bone loss at every individual tooth. We recommend dental radiography for all patients undergoing dental cleaning and for any pet with a suspected oral abnormality. Without X-rays, a dental evaluation is incomplete.
Tooth extraction becomes necessary when a tooth is severely damaged by advanced periodontal disease, fractured in a way that cannot be stabilized, affected by tooth resorption, or a source of unmanageable pain. Our veterinarians perform single and multi-rooted tooth extractions using dental elevators, high-speed dental equipment, and careful pain management protocols. Complex or surgical extractions involving advanced disease, multi-rooted teeth requiring sectioning, or challenging oral anatomy are performed by our visiting board-certified veterinary dental specialist when appropriate. Pre-booking is required for specialist dental procedures. Pets recover remarkably well after necessary tooth extractions. Most eat normally within a few days of surgery, often significantly better than before the painful tooth was removed.
Oral infections in dogs and cats range from localized gingivitis and periodontal disease to more severe conditions including periapical abscesses, jaw osteomyelitis, and feline stomatitis. Stomatitis in cats is a severe, painful inflammatory condition affecting the gingiva and oral mucosa that can make eating extremely difficult. Signs of oral infection include persistent bad breath, drooling, reluctance to eat or dropping food, pawing at the face, visible redness or swelling of the gums, and changes in grooming behavior in cats. We evaluate oral infections during dental exams and dental cleanings and develop a management plan appropriate to the severity and underlying cause of the condition.
An oral health assessment is included in every routine dental cleaning and is also available as a standalone examination for pets with suspected dental concerns between cleaning intervals. During an assessment, our veterinarians evaluate every tooth, the gums, tongue, hard and soft palate, and surrounding oral tissue for signs of disease, retained deciduous (baby) teeth in young pets, malocclusion, abnormal masses, and other findings. For pets with advanced or complex oral pathology, we may recommend specialist evaluation by our visiting board-certified dental specialist before planning any intervention. We also provide guidance on at-home dental hygiene including tooth brushing technique and supplemental dental care products to help maintain your pet's oral health between professional cleanings.
Give your pet the gift of a healthy mouth. Call (650) 362-7969 or book online to schedule a professional dental cleaning or dental exam at Universal Pet Hospital in Palo Alto. Same-day dental appointments may be available.
