Dog & Cat HospitalCalabasas

Care

Dentistry

Professional dental cleanings, digital radiographs, and extractions to protect your pet's mouth — and the heart, kidneys, and liver that dental bacteria can quietly damage.

Dental disease is the most common health problem diagnosed in dogs and cats — yet most owners never see it coming because pets rarely stop eating, even when their mouths hurt. At Dog & Cat Hospital Calabasas, professional dental care goes well beyond a quick scale-and-polish. Every cleaning includes full-mouth digital dental radiographs (X-rays taken of the tooth roots below the gumline), because 60 percent or more of dental pathology is invisible without them. Our team identifies loose teeth, bone loss, retained roots, and early resorptive lesions that cause real pain — and we address them before they become emergencies.

What's Included

A complete dental procedure at our hospital includes:

  • Pre-anesthetic physical exam and bloodwork to confirm your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia
  • General anesthesia with continuous monitoring throughout the procedure
  • Supragingival and subgingival scaling — removing tartar above and below the gumline
  • Full-mouth digital dental radiographs — standard on every cleaning, not an add-on
  • Periodontal probing of every tooth for gum pocket depth and attachment loss
  • Polishing to smooth enamel and slow plaque re-adhesion
  • Extractions when teeth are diseased, fractured, or causing pain — including surgical extractions for multi-rooted teeth
  • Post-procedure report and home-care instructions for ongoing dental health

Give your pet a healthier mouth

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What to Expect

Dental cleanings require general anesthesia — there is simply no other safe, thorough way to clean below the gumline and take X-rays in a moving, uncomfortable patient. You'll fast your pet the night before, drop them off in the morning, and receive a call with an update once the procedure is complete. If X-rays reveal teeth that need extraction, our team will contact you before proceeding so you're informed and can ask questions. Most pets go home the same afternoon, with written home-care instructions, any prescribed pain medication, and a clear sense of what was found and treated.

Why Our Team

Full-mouth X-rays as standard.

Digital dental radiographs are included in every cleaning — not charged as an upgrade — because root-level disease is only visible on film.

Anesthesia expertise on-site.

Our board-certified surgical team and in-house anesthesia protocols mean dental procedures are monitored as carefully as any major surgery.

Extraction when it counts.

Loose, fractured, or abscessed teeth are removed cleanly and comfortably — relieving pain your pet likely wasn't showing you.

Home-care follow-through.

Every dental visit ends with a practical plan for brushing, rinses, or dental treats that actually slow tartar buildup between cleanings.

Frequently Asked Questions

1How do I know if my dog needs a dental cleaning?
Yellow or brown tartar, persistent bad breath, bleeding or red gums, and dropping food are the most visible signs — but many dogs with significant dental disease show none of them. An annual oral exam during your pet's wellness visit is the most reliable way to catch dental problems early.
2Is anesthesia-free dentistry safe or effective for pets?
Anesthesia-free dentistry is not considered safe or effective by veterinary dentistry specialists. It only removes visible tartar above the gumline, misses all subgingival disease and root pathology, and requires restraining an awake, stressed animal — creating a real risk of injury and false reassurance.
3How often does my cat need a dental cleaning?
Most cats benefit from a professional cleaning every one to two years, though some breeds and individuals accumulate tartar much faster and need annual treatment. Your veterinarian will recommend a frequency based on your cat's oral health at each exam.
4My dog is 10 years old — is anesthesia too risky for a dental cleaning?
Age alone is not a reason to skip a dental cleaning. We perform pre-anesthetic bloodwork, tailor the protocol to older patients, and monitor continuously throughout — which makes anesthesia very safe for most senior pets. The risks of untreated dental disease (pain, infection, organ damage) often outweigh the anesthetic risk.
5What happens if my pet needs a tooth pulled during the cleaning?
If dental X-rays reveal a tooth that should be extracted, our team will call you during the procedure to discuss findings and get your authorization before proceeding. We explain what was found, why extraction is recommended, and what to expect for recovery.
6Can I brush my dog's teeth at home instead of getting a cleaning?
Daily brushing is the most effective home-care measure and meaningfully slows tartar buildup, but it cannot remove tartar that has already hardened or treat disease below the gumline. Brushing and professional cleanings work best together.
7How long does a dental cleaning take for a dog or cat?
A routine cleaning — scaling, full-mouth X-rays, probing, and polishing — typically takes one to two hours. Add extractions or more extensive oral pathology and the procedure may run longer; we'll give you a realistic estimate based on your pet's oral health.
8Will my pet be in pain after a dental extraction?
We use multimodal pain control during and after every extraction, and most pets go home with a short course of prescribed pain medication. Soft food for a few days is standard; most dogs and cats are noticeably more comfortable within 24–48 hours once the source of pain is gone.

Related

ProceduresDental Cleaning & ExtractionsConditionsDental & Periodontal Disease

Give your pet a healthier mouth

Schedule a dental exam or cleaning and let our team find out what's really going on below the gumline — before it becomes a bigger problem.

Book an Appointment