At Barkes Corner Veterinary Hospital, dental disease is one of the most common health problems we see in our patients. It has been reported that close to 90% of dogs and cats have some degree of dental disease by the age of 2 years old. This can be a painful condition that our pets don’t always show signs of. The early stages of dental disease are reversible, and this is where we aim to intervene to ensure the long-term health of our patients.

During your initial dental consultation with our vet or nurse, it may not be possible to assess what treatment is required. It is only after a dental clean and x-rays that the course of treatment is more obvious. Often, we find extractions are needed and in a lot of cases this can add a significant and unexpected extra time under anaesthetic, as well as cost. This can be a big decision to make, particularly when a quick decision is needed while your pet is under anaesthetic. To continue to put our patient’s health first we are changing the way we perform dentistry at Barkes Corner Veterinary Hospital.

WHAT ARE THE CHANGES?

  • The main change is that we are converting to staged dentals. The first stage involves a comprehensive oral health assessment that will include x-rays. This is a similar process to you going to your dentist for treatment.
  • We then clean all the teeth and make an individualised plan for further dental treatment including home care. After discussion, we will contact you with the costs for further procedures and the home care plan within a week of the first stage dental.
  • The second stage is further treatment which may include extractions or any additional specialist dental referral.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the advantages of staging the dental procedures?

  • Two shorter anaesthetics has been shown to promote faster recovery and healing after a general anaesthetic
  • Decreased chances of post-op complications such as gum flap breakdown
  • Removes the uncertainty of estimated costs – you will know exactly what each stage will cost (with the exception of specialist referral).
  • Enables us to discuss alternatives to extractions and gives you the chance to think about the available options
  • Enables us to plan our day more efficiently so there will be less chance we will need to postpone a procedure or start a procedure late in the day due to previous procedures taking longer than expected.

Are staged dentals going to end up costing me more?

  • No, we discount the second stage so that it will cost you the same as if we had done it in one long procedure

Is an anaesthetic really needed?

  • Yes. It is not possible to properly assess, clean and extract teeth without our patients being under an anaesthetic.

Are x-rays really needed?

  • Yes. There is a lot of tooth below the gumline that we cannot assess without x-rays. X-rays help us determine the overall tooth health and help us decide if a tooth should be extracted, if it can be saved and predict possible extraction complications.

What if my pet has a few loose teeth? Can these be extracted in the stage one procedure?

  • If the extraction(s) will be quick, then there is a high chance we can extract the affected tooth or teeth under a first stage procedure (at an additional cost) as this is unlikely to hugely prolong the time taken.

What if I can’t afford the stage 2 dental?

  • The good thing about staged dentals is it allows us to make a plan and timeframe based on your individual circumstances. We can help prioritise further work required and have afterpay as a payment option.

Will I get my Best for Pet dental discount off both stages?

  • No, it can only be applied to first stage dentals and can only be used once per year.

Should I do first stage dentals every year?

  • Ideally yes. There are always some exceptions though. We offer free dental checks to current clients and we can discuss dental care during these checks or your pet’s annual health checks or vaccination appointments.

Is there a timeframe to do the stage 2 procedure?

  • Yes, to qualify for the discounted stage 2 procedure it must be done within 2 months of the first stage procedure. As oral health is progressive, the costs provided at the end of the stage 1 procedure is only for the teeth and treatment options discussed on that day. There is a chance that a previously salvageable tooth can no longer be saved if the dental disease progresses between the 2 stages.

What can be done as an alternative to extractions?

  • We can offer advanced procedures such as dental bonding, bone grafts and root canals to name a few. These procedures are not performed at our clinic, but we can refer you to a specialist who will have the advanced equipment and expertise to do these procedures