What Is Dental Surgery?
Dental surgery is any surgical procedure, which addresses oral health issues experienced by your pet.
Routine dental care, both at home and during yearly checkups, is the most effective method to protect your pet's oral health.
However, our expert staff also offers surgical services in order to restore your companion's dental health and treat a wide range of issues, from tooth decay to gum disease.
Common Dental Conditions
Some common health issues which may require dental surgery to treat include:
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Feline stomatitis
- Tooth decay
- Jaw fractures
- Severe gum disease (periodontitis)
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint) luxation or dysplasia
Dental Surgery FAQs
- What happens during the surgical consultation?
During the surgical consultation, our vets will perform a physical examination of your pet and conduct tests, including blood work, in order to determine the nature of their condition.
X-rays, EKGs, ultrasounds, and biopsies are examples of diagnostics. Once the results are in, a surgical plan is devised and discussed with you.
- Will the surgery and consultation happen on the same day?
It varies. A consultation appointment is required for testing and examination to determine the nature of your pet’s health problem. Once any diagnostic test results have come back from our lab, we may schedule your pet’s surgery for the same day, or we may need to set the surgery for another day.
- How long will the surgery take?
Dental surgeries will often last between 2 and 4 hours, with some difference depending on the kind of surgery being performed and on your pet's condition.
- Does my pet have to stay at the hospital overnight either before or after the surgery?
No. Most dental surgery patients are able to go home by 6 p.m. on the same day. However, if the patient needs additional monitoring overnight, the pet’s owner will transport their pet to a local 24-hour emergency facility for the overnight monitoring.
Home Care After a Dental Surgery
After dental surgery has been completed and your vet has decided they don't require any further in-hospital monitoring, it will be time for your pet to come home.
Your pet's demands will vary depending on the type of dental surgery they have. First and foremost, you should adhere to the post-operative care recommendations supplied by your veterinarian. If you are unsure, you may always call them to inquire.
Your pet may require pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications and will also need plenty of rest. As a rule, try and prevent your pet from undertaking too much physical activity for 48 hours after their procedure.
And, because dental surgery may leave your pet's mouth sensitive and prone to damage or infection while it recovers, it is critical to strictly adhere to your veterinarian's feeding and watering recommendations.
If your pet is not eating, is rubbing its mouth, or is showing signs of infection like swelling or bleeding, contact your Harbor Animal Hospital staff as soon as possible.
