Pet Dental Cleaning Near Me
Your pet can’t tell you when a tooth hurts. Most dogs and cats hide dental pain until it’s advanced, which is why regular dental care is one of the most important things you can do for their long-term health. At MVS Animal Clinic in Deerfield Beach, Dr. Deborah Niedermiller, and our team have been caring for pets across Broward County for decades. Through our preventative dental hygiene program, we help keep your pet’s teeth clean, their gums healthy and their mouth comfortable.
Why Dental Cleaning Matters for Dogs & Cats
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems we see in pets. By age three, most dogs and cats already show some signs of it. It starts with plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that builds up on the teeth every day. If it isn’t removed, plaque hardens into tartar (also called calculus), which brushing alone can’t take off.
Tartar that builds up above and below the gumline leads to gingivitis (inflamed gums) and eventually periodontal disease, an infection of the tissues that hold the teeth in place. Over time, that can mean pain, loose or broken teeth, and difficulty eating. Because the mouth has a rich blood supply, ongoing dental infection can also put extra strain on your pet’s overall health.
A professional cleaning removes the tartar you can’t reach at home. It also lets us spot problems early, while they’re easier and more comfortable to treat.
When to Schedule a Dental Cleaning
Most pets benefit from a dental exam at least once a year. Some small dog breeds, flat-faced breeds and senior pets may need cleanings more often. Call us to schedule a dental visit if you notice any of these signs:
- Bad breath that doesn’t go away
- Yellow or brown buildup on the teeth
- Red, swollen or bleeding gums
- Dropping food, chewing on one side or suddenly avoiding hard food
- Pawing at the mouth or rubbing the face
- Loose, broken or discolored teeth
- Drooling more than usual
Even if you don’t see any of these, Dr. Niedermiller will check your pet’s teeth during every wellness exam and let you know when a cleaning is recommended.
What’s Included in a COHAT (Professional Dental Cleaning)
In veterinary medicine, a professional dental cleaning is called a COHAT, short for Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment. The name fits: it’s much more than a cleaning. It’s a full evaluation and treatment of your pet’s mouth, done while your pet is safely under general anesthesia so we can examine and clean every surface of every tooth, including below the gumline, without stress or discomfort.
Every COHAT is tailored to your pet and their condition, so there’s no one-size-fits-all package. Depending on what your pet needs, a COHAT at MVS Animal Clinic may include:
- A pre-dental exam to review your pet’s health and make sure anesthesia is appropriate
- Pre-anesthetic bloodwork to check organ function before anesthesia, if recommended
- Scaling to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gumline
- Polishing to smooth the tooth surface and slow future buildup
- A full oral exam, with every tooth evaluated and charted
- Extractions when needed, for teeth that are badly damaged or infected
- A home-care plan to help keep your pet’s teeth clean between visits
We perform COHATs for both dogs and cats. Before any procedure, we’ll walk you through exactly what we recommend and why.
Anesthesia Safety
We understand that anesthesia is the biggest worry for many pet owners, and it’s a fair question to ask. Anesthesia is what makes a thorough, pain-free cleaning possible. Without it, it isn’t safe or effective to clean below the gumline, where periodontal disease does the most damage.
Your pet’s safety comes first at every step. Before the procedure, Dr. Niedermiller reviews your pet’s age, health history and exam findings along with pre-anesthetic bloodwork, if recommended, to choose the safest approach. During the procedure, your pet is monitored the entire time, and afterwards we watch them closely as they wake up before they go home with you. Senior pets and pets with health conditions can often still have dental care safely; we’ll talk through any extra precautions with you.
To learn more about how we keep pets safe, read our guide to anesthesia safety in veterinary care.
Pricing
Because every COHAT is individualized, the cost depends on your pet’s size, age and health, and on what treatment their mouth needs. After examining your pet, Dr. Niedermiller will give you an estimate based on the procedure she expects to perform. You’ll also receive a “what if” estimate that covers any extractions she may find are needed once the procedure is underway. That way you know the possible costs up front, and there are no surprises. Call us at (954) 425-0013 and we’ll be happy to talk through pricing for your pet.
Dental Care at Our Deerfield Beach Clinic
All dental procedures are done at our Deerfield Beach clinic. Every COHAT involves general anesthesia, so it’s performed where we have the anesthesia and monitoring equipment needed to keep your pet safe from start to finish. For other routine needs, our mobile veterinary visits are available on the third Thursday of every month within roughly 20 miles of our office.
Caring for Your Pet’s Teeth at Home
A professional cleaning is just the start. Daily or near-daily brushing with a pet-safe toothpaste is the best way to slow plaque buildup between visits (never use human toothpaste, which can be harmful to pets). Dental chews and a healthy diet can help too. We’ll show you simple techniques during your visit. For pets with ongoing health needs, we can also talk about how dental care fits with the rest of their care at our animal clinic in Deerfield Beach, including holistic options like acupuncture.
