FAQ'S
ANESTHESIA
Does my pet have to have anesthesia for x-rays?
Anesthesia scares me Doc.
How long will my pet be under anesthesia?
ORAL CARE
I looked at my pets teeth and they look ok. Why do we need x-rays?
Why do we need x-rays if the teeth look pretty good?
Why should I see someone who only does dentistry? I like my Veterinarian and she/he says my pets teeth aren't bad enough yet to treat.
Sounds expensive. How much does it cost?
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ANESTHESIA
Does my pet have to have anesthesia for x-rays?
Yes they do. Dental x-rays are the most important part of the oral exam. In order for those films to be diagnostic they have to be taken while the pet is very very still. If you are reading this, odds are very high that you have had dental x-rays yourself. Imagine your pet letting us put the digital sensor in their mouth then asking them to hold still while we take the x-ray. That's right it just won't fly. So safe anesthesia is a key part of obtaining x-rays for a complete true oral exam on a pet.
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Anesthesia scares me Doc.
I had a friend who lost a pet to a dental procedure and so I never do dentistry so my pet doesn't die.
I am sorry for your friends loss and at PCVDOS we work every day to prevent any losses for owners and their companions. Odds are that it was not the dentistry that harmed their pet but the anesthesia. Everyone should be respectful of anesthesia and at PCVDOS we certainly are. We know that using state of the art equipment and balanced anesthesia protocols designed specifically for each pet as an individual is key to reducing the risk of complications. In over 6000 oral procedures over the course of 7 years Dr Brown has only lost one patient. Dr Brown studied anesthesia at U.C.Davis, U.Minn, U.Mizz, and U.Penn veterinary teaching hospitals. Her assistant Sarah Caldwell is a liscensed R.V.T. with 12 years of experience in critical care and advanced anesthesia techniques. Together they oversee and guide each pet through a safe, planned, monitored protocol designed to maximize the safety, and minimize the anesthesia effects of each procedure. Anesthesia has changed as dramatically as dentistry in veterinary medicine. It is important to make sure that whoever takes care of your pet's anesthesia and oral health is trained, has the protocols and equipment that will help protect them, and is trained in the art and science of dental care to maximize the effectiveness of your pets time under anesthesia. We definitely do not believe in, or practice, "car wash" anesthesia. At PCVDOS we are detail oriented and those details pay off in providing safe oral prevention for your pet.
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How long will my pet be under anesthesia?
The shortest time possible. Prior to anesthesia Dr Brown will have met with you and made a plan for either diagnostics and or treatment for your pet's oral disease. The actual time for an oral exam, cleaning, and x-rays is about 12-15 minutes. Dr Brown does all the diagnostics herself so that there is no time lost waiting. She will call you with an update on the findings and a treatment plan including a detailed estimate. At that time you can elect to either stage or treat your pet's oral disease. Because we are already set up for virtually any eventuality for oral disease including standard root canal therapies, oral tumor removals, periodontal surgery, exodontics, orthodontics, and crown whitening, sealants, and repair; there is no time lost if you elect to proceed with treating your pets oral disease. After the procedure Dr Brown will review all of the x-rays and dental photos with you as well as discuss the procedure with your veterinarian and provide them with a copy of the medical records.
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ORAL CARE
I looked at my pets teeth and they look ok. Why do we need x-rays?
No oral exam is complete without x-rays. 75% of the oral structures are not visible to the naked eye. The crown is just that, the crown of a very important compelx dental system. The structure underneath the gingiva supported by a root, pulp cavity, alveolar bone, and all the softtissue that feeds and maintains the health of the crown is not visible. Periodontal disease attacks the bone and softtissue structures that we cannot see without x-rays. So dental x-rays are essential to assessing your pet's oral health. Digital dental x-rays are fast, accurate, and reduce anesthesia time. We only use digital dental xrays.
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Why do we need x-rays if the teeth look pretty good?
As you know from seeing your dentist, x-rays help us see if there are any signs of periodontal disease, underlying bone or root disease, and if there are any changes in the bone that may be associated with tumor growth. 93% of pets over the age of 5 have radiographic evidence of periodontal bone loss. The x-rays provide the map for the plan to correctly clean and protect each tooth and to document that the prevention plan we want your pet on is working.
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Why should I see someone who only does dentistry? I like my Veterinarian and she/he says my pets teeth aren't bad enough yet to treat.
As veterinarians we have recognized that waiting isn't working for the pet. Did you know that 93% of pets over the age of 5 have oral disease? Can you imagine if 93% of pets had rabies? Of course not! That is why we prevent rabies. Prevention is the best medicine for your pet's oral health, just like in human dentistry. We would never ask you to leave your Veterinarian for general health practice. We would only ask that you consider seeing us for focused care for your pets oral health. Waiting until the mouth is bad means that it will be bad for your pet. At PCVDOS we want to prevent bad breath, chronic oral disease, loss of teeth, oral pain, and the cost associated with chronic oral disease. Just like you see your family Doctor for general medicine, and your Dentist for oral health, we provide specific, practiced, experienced care for your pets oral health. Experience and focus is your biggest advantage to having our team care for your pet's oral health. Oral prevention is our practice. Period. Our dental suite is streamlined for dentistry and oral surgery so that we are always prepared to do an excellent job. Dr Brown's training and experience provides for an extremely efficient, effective, and complete oral diagnosis and treatment for pet with no loss of time waiting or struggling to manage an "incidental finding" in the mouth. Dr Brown's knowledge and experience minimizes the time under anesthesia and maximizes the care with practiced, professional techniques.
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Sounds expensive. How much does it cost?
Dr Brown does not charge for her consults. So your visit and initial exam of your pet's mouth is no charge. We prefer that your investment in your pet's oral health is sound, and without those x-rays we know that a true oral exam is not complete. Each pet is different and has different needs so we give a detailed estimate before any costs are incurred during your initial visit.