FAQs

Are dental issues common in cats and dogs?

At Raintree Dentistry & Oral Surgery for Animals, we’re passionate about helping pets live healthier, happier lives through advanced dental and oral surgical care. Our practice is dedicated exclusively to dentistry and oral surgery for dogs and cats, allowing us to provide a level of expertise and precision that goes beyond general veterinary care. 

Our dedicated team includes Dr. Kipp Wingo, a board-certifiedTM veterinary dentist with years of rigorous training in veterinary dentistry, anesthesia, and surgical techniques. Dr. Wingo is skilled in treating even the most complex oral health conditions in dogs and cats. From tooth fractures and oral trauma to advanced cases of oral cancer, your pet is in capable hands.

Absolutely. Although pets feel pain just like humans, they express it differently. Humans are vocal and seek help. But in the wild, showing pain is a sign of weakness, so dogs and cats often hide it. Our doctors have treated pets with severe oral trauma–fractures, abscesses, infections–that still wagged their tails, ate normally, and seemed “fine.”

The symptoms of dental disease are often mistaken for “normal aging.” After treatment, many pet parents tell us their dogs and cats that previously acted old now act like puppies or kittens again. If you can imagine what advanced dental disease might feel like in your own mouth, your pet is feeling the same, even if they don’t show it. 

They’re not. Studies show that wild animals suffer from the same painful dental diseases as household pets. The difference is lifespan: wild cats and canines typically live only a few years, not into their teens like our beloved pets. With longer lives, domestic animals have much more time to develop dental disease, just like humans do.

Your pet should see a veterinary dentist once a year. However, you should schedule a visit as soon as possible if your pet is showing any of the following signs of dental disease:

  • Bad breath
  • Red, swollen gums
  • Brown or yellow buildup (tartar/calculus)
  • Drooling
  • Dropping food or preferring soft food
  • Chipped or broken teeth
  • Facial swelling or pawing at the mouth

If you’re unsure whether your pet has dental disease, ask your veterinarian or schedule a consultation with us.

It depends on your pet’s breed, age, and individual health. Some pets need cleanings every 6 months, while others may do well with annual cleanings. Our doctors at Raintree Dentistry & Oral Surgery for Animals will recommend the right schedule to keep your pet’s mouth and overall health in top shape. 

Yes. Anesthesia is required to examine and clean your pet’s mouth properly. A safe, thorough dental procedure simply cannot be performed on an awake pet. Here’s why:

  • X-rays are essential for diagnosing disease, and are impossible without anesthesia. 
  • Cleaning under the gumline, where most disease starts, cannot be done in an awake animal. 
  • Pets will not willingly sit still with their mouths open.

The risks of untreated dental disease are usually far greater than the risks of anesthesia. At Raintree Dentistry & Oral Surgery for Animals, anesthesia is always overseen by our doctors, who have specialized training. We use customized protocols, advanced monitoring equipment, and, when needed, a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist for high-risk patients. 

Yes. Just like with people, daily home care enhances the benefits of routine professional cleanings. Brushing your pet’s teeth is the gold standard of home dental care, ideally once or twice daily. If daily brushing isn’t possible, you should be brushing your pet’s teeth a minimum of three times per week for two minutes at a time.  

Look for products with the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal, which ensures they’re proven safe and effective for pets. Never use human toothpaste on your pet, as it may contain toxic ingredients.

In both pets and humans, oral health is directly linked to overall health. Professional veterinary cleanings and check-ups prevent periodontal disease, abscesses, tooth decay, and other painful dental conditions in pets. Maintaining your pet’s healthy mouth also prevents bacteria from entering their bloodstream and damaging their heart, kidneys, or liver. Routine dental care keeps pets healthier, more comfortable, and happier throughout their lives. 

Ideally, your pet should receive a dental check-up at least once a year. However, some small breeds and high-risk pets may need exams every 6 months. If you notice bad breath, changes in your pet’s eating habits, or visible tartar, schedule an appointment sooner. 

Schedule an appointment right away if your pet shows any of the following signs of dental problems:

  • Bad breath
  • Discolored teeth
  • Bleeding gums
  • Difficulty eating or refusal to eat
  • Drooling
  • Pawing at the mouth

A professional veterinary dental cleaning includes;

  • Removing plaque and tartar above and below the gum line
  • Polishing teeth
  • Taking dental x-rays of every tooth
  • A complete oral exam to check for hidden problems

At Raintree Dentistry & Oral Surgery for Animals, we use advanced equipment to ensure the most thorough and gentle care possible. 

We take extra precautions to keep anesthesia as safe as possible for your pet. For example, each patient’s medical history and lab results are reviewed by an off-site board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist, who creates a customized protocol for every pet. This expert also views our anesthetic monitors in real-time and maintains constant communication with us during every procedure. 

After surgery, it’s important to:

  • Follow all medication instructions carefully
  • Watch the surgical site for swelling, bleeding, or signs of infection
  • Avoid toys, chews, or treats that could stress the mouth
  • Ensure your pet gets plenty of rest

We’ll provide tailored discharge instructions for your pet—please follow them closely for the best recovery. 

Our advanced CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) technology provides highly detailed, 3D imaging of both hard and soft tissues. This allows our doctors to see hidden issues that traditional x-rays may miss, leading to more accurate diagnoses and more effective, targeted treatment—especially in complex cases.

Recovery time varies depending on the procedure and the individual pet. For instance, younger pets tend to recover more quickly. After routine cleanings, pets often return to normal within 24 hours. More advanced surgeries may take several days to a few weeks for full recovery. We’ll provide specific recovery timelines and step-by-step home care instructions tailored to your pet after their procedure. 

Board-certified veterinary dental specialists complete an additional four years of advanced post-graduate training and must pass rigorous written and practical exams, ensuring they have the right skills for complex cases. At Raintree Dentistry & Oral Surgery for Animals, our team’s advanced training, combined with cutting-edge technology, ensures your pet receives the highest level of expertise and care. 

Your pet’s comfort and safety are always our top priorities. Our commitment to quality care includes:

  • Advanced imaging and diagnostic tools, including CBCT
  • A dedicated, highly trained dental and surgical team
  • Customized anesthesia protocols for every patient
  • A unique partnership with an off-site board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist, who reviews each case and monitors procedures in real time. 

As an independently owned practice, we can adapt quickly, invest in the best equipment, and always put patients first.

Non-anesthetic cleaning

While it may sound appealing, an on-anesthetic dental cleaning does not provide true dental care. Pets cannot sit still with their mouths open, hold their head in position, or tolerate the tools needed for a thorough cleaning. This means:

  • X-rays cannot be taken, making it impossible to assess the health of the teeth below the gum line. 
  • Cleaning under the gums—the most important area—is not possible in an awake pet. 
  • A complete oral exam cannot be performed without anesthesia.  

Non-anesthetic cleanings may make teeth look whiter and improve breath temporarily, but they do nothing to treat or prevent disease. In fact, they can be harmful because they create a false sense of security. Pet parents believe their pet’s mouth is healthy when, in reality, dental disease may be progressing unseen, and their pet may be in pain. 

As specialists, we often see pets who have undergone multiple non-anesthetic cleanings only to later require extensive dental surgery and extractions that could have been prevented with proper care. 

For more information about non-anesthetic cleanings, visit the American Veterinary Dental College website: https://afd.avdc.org/

Anesthetic cleaning

General anesthesia is essential for safe, effective dental care. It allows us to thoroughly examine every tooth, take x-rays, and clean beneath the gum line where disease starts. 

At Raintree Dentistry & Oral Surgery for Animals, our doctors—not just nurses—are directly involved in every stage of anesthesia. Each patient receives a customized anesthetic plan, and a dedicated nurse stays by their side from the moment anesthesia begins until full recovery. 

Here’s what you expect with our anesthetic protocol:

  1. A full exam and review of medical history and lab results
  2. Bloodwork (CBC and chemistry panel) before anesthesia if needed
  3. Mild sedation, IV catheter placement, and IV fluids
  4. Pre-anesthetic monitoring, including EKG and blood pressure
  5. IV induction medication, followed by placement of a breathing tube
  6. Administration of pure oxygen and the safest anesthetic gas available
  7. Continuous monitoring of heart rate, oxygen levels, breathing, temperature, blood pressure, and CO2 every five minutes. 
  8. Warm blankets and specialized warming systems to maintain body temperature. 

Most patients begin waking within five minutes after the procedure, are standing within 10-15 minutes, and go home within a few hours. For high-risk patients, or when requested, we can arrange for a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist to manage anesthesia directly. 

Non-anesthetic cleanings only address appearances—they do not protect your pet’s health. True dental care requires anesthesia to diagnose, treat, and prevent painful oral disease safely and effectively.

Age alone is not a reason to avoid anesthesia. Our doctors are experienced in anesthetizing patients from 10 to 20 years old, and have successfully anesthetized thousands of senior pets—even those with complex medical conditions. With modern protocols and monitoring, the benefits of resolving dental disease often far outweigh the risks. Patients are usually standing 10-15 minutes after the procedure and go home in an hour or two. We can also arrange for a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist to manage high-risk patients. 

This is largely a myth from decades ago when anesthesia involved using barbiturates, which caused problems in some breeds. Today’s anesthetics no longer use those drugs and are far safer. Our doctors tailor each anesthesia plan to the individual pet, minimizing risks and ensuring a smooth recovery. 

Caring for Pets Like They’re Our Own



    Raintree Dentistry & Oral Surgery for Animals

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    Phone: (623) 377-5050

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