What a Dental Visit Involves
Every pet’s mouth tells a slightly different story depending on age, diet, and breed — small dogs in particular tend to run into dental problems earlier than people expect. A visit typically includes:
- A hands-on oral exam checking gums, tartar buildup, and any loose or fractured teeth
- A full cleaning under anesthesia when needed, since pets won’t sit still for what a human dental cleaning requires
- Dental X-rays for anything happening below the gumline that isn’t visible from a simple look
- Extractions if a tooth is too damaged or diseased to save
- A rundown of at-home care afterward — brushing, dental chews, or diet changes, depending on what actually fits your pet’s routine
Why This Gets Overlooked (and Why It Shouldn’t)
Dental disease doesn’t just cause bad breath — left alone, the bacteria involved can work its way into the bloodstream and affect organs like the heart and kidneys over time. It’s also one of the more preventable things we see, which is part of why we bring it up at every wellness visit rather than waiting for someone to notice a problem on their own. Because Dr. Rogoff has been treating pets in this same building since 1973, a lot of what looks unfamiliar to a pet owner is something we’ve already caught early plenty of times before.