The Animal Dental Centers facilities offer our patients safe anesthetic procedures with modern state of the art dental instrumentation and equipment. Your pet's safety begins with the taking of a thorough patient history followed by a complete physical exam of all the bodies systems. All prior diagnostic tests on the pet are correlated with potential risk factors of the procedures which they will be undergoing. Diagnostic Blood Work prior to the procedure allows us to check the patient for any abnormalities that can create anesthetic risks so as to allow closer monitoring of these problem areas if they exist.
During the procedures certified technicians and veterinary assistants monitor all patients under anesthesia and during their recovery time. During the procedure, your pets receive the following treatment:
- An intravenous catheter is placed in a leg of the patients through which they receive fluid therapy during and after the oral procedure. This is important because the fluids help the animals wake up quicker while also providing support of their blood pressure and kidney function. The catheter also allows important medications to be given directly into the animal's bloodstream.
- Isoflurane gas anesthesia is used during the procedure. This safe gas is administered through a tube that protects the animal's airways and allows for a quicker wakeup after the procedure is done.
- A heated circulating waterbed provides the anesthetized animal with a constant temperature throughout the procedure thereby allowing a smoother quickerand recovery time.
- Pulse Oximeters and Blood Pressure Dopplers help us to monitor the patients very carefully while they are anesthesized. A Certified technician is also recording all the pet's vital signs and checking for any abnormal changes. This allows us to be proactive during surgery thereby responding quicker your pet's needs and providing a wider margin of safety.
- Pain management of our patients is an important aspect of our oral treatment protocols. Medications are given to our patients in order to prevent them from experiencing any discomfort on recuperation. The Animal Dental Center uses transdermal pain patches that can deliver medications constantly through the skin thereby reducing the potential for your pet experiencing pain.
The combination of technology (state of the art dental materials and equipment) and trained veterinary personel provides for a high level of care for your pet's oral needs.
- Digital filmless X-ray equipment is one of the numerous advanced equipment systems in our offices. X-rays are digitized and stored in a computer thereby significantly minimizing the patient's exposure to radiation
- Radiosurgery is used by Dr. Luskin to increase the patient's comfort and decrease the anesthesia time. Radiosurgery involves using high frequency radio waves to cut and seal the tissues. This is especially useful in taking biopsies and remodeling the gingiva or gums. The patient has diminished bleeding and greater comfort on awakening.
- Ultrasonic scalers with special tips are used at the Animal Dental Center. Odontosons are designed to root plane or smooth the tooth roots under the gum line. This procedure is very important to stop the gum and bone from receding, thereby preventing loss of the tooth.
- Fluoride sealants are used to protect the teeth of cats from resorptive "cavity like" lesions. These are very painful cavities that form in 60% of the cat population.
- Nasal endoscopy is a special diagnostic test, used to evaluate the animal's sinuses. It allows us to see the inside of the nasal passages and detect chronic nasal disease, which might be caused by an underlying dental problem or nasal tumor.