Pet Teeth Cleaning in Cookeville and Crossville, TN

Taking care of your pet’s teeth is just as important as providing them with a balanced, nutritious diet and keeping them vaccinated. Best Friends Veterinary Hospital provides complete dental cleanings for dogs and cats under anesthesia to help prevent oral disease as well as potential systemic disease of the heart, liver, or kidneys. Our dentals full mouth digital radiographs, a thorough evaluation for periodontal pockets and bone health, and extractions if needed. With treatment at our hospital and routine dental care at home, your pet can maintain a clean, healthy mouth and enjoy a much better life as a result.

Dental care is vital to your best friend’s comfort and quality of life. Request an appointment so we can help you care for your pet’s dental needs.

Book Now

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is a common oral condition that affects more than half of all dogs and cats ages 3 and up. It develops when plaque and tartar buildup goes untreated, resulting in the spread of infectious bacteria in the mouth and, potentially, the bloodstream. Characteristics of periodontal disease include:

Bad breath
Red, swollen gums
Drooling (sometimes blood-tinged)
Thick brown/yellow buildup along the gum line
Difficulty chewing and eating (pet may drop food while eating)

What to Expect with Teeth Cleanings for Dogs and Cats

Since most oral problems in dogs and cats are concealed below the gum line, we need to be as thorough as possible when evaluating their teeth and gums. Below are the measures we take to perform a comprehensive oral assessment and teeth cleaning procedure:

Pre-Anesthetic Exam and Bloodwork

Before every pet dental procedure, we conduct a pre-anesthetic exam and bloodwork to make sure your pet is in good condition before we administer anesthesia.

Thorough Oral Exam

Once your pet is under anesthesia, we check all their teeth and probe around the gums to look for signs of infection, loose or broken teeth, oral tumors, and other issues.

Cleaning Your Pet's Teeth

We use ultrasonic and hand scaling tools to remove hardened tartar from the teeth, above and below the gum line, and polish your pet's tooth enamel to slow future buildup of plaque.

Full Mouth Dental X-Rays

Full mouth dental xrays are essential part of every dental procedure. They allow us to check for disease and damage below the gum line where 70% of oral issues occur. Xrays also ensures that any extracted teeth have been fully removed.

Tooth Extraction (if necessary)

If we find a decayed or broken tooth that can't be saved, we will need to extract it. If extractions are needed we provide aggressive pain control to keep your pet comfortable.