57 Williamsons Road Doncaster VIC 3108
Mon-Fri: 8:00am-6:00pm
Sat: 9:00am-1:00pm
Why Dental Care Matters
🦷 Periodontal disease is one of the most common diseases in dogs and cats
Approximately two-thirds of dogs and cats over two years of age have some stage of periodontal disease.
Unfortunately, dental disease often progresses silently. Many pets continue eating normally despite significant oral pain, making dental disease easy to overlook until it becomes advanced.
Without treatment, plaque and tartar can lead to:
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Gingivitis
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Periodontal disease
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Gum recession
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Tooth root exposure
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Bone loss
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Loose teeth
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Tooth loss
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Chronic oral pain
❤️ Dental disease doesn't just affect the mouth
The mouth is closely connected to the rest of the body.
Chronic periodontal infection allows bacteria and inflammatory mediators to enter the bloodstream, potentially contributing to systemic inflammation and increasing the burden on organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver.
Maintaining good oral health is therefore an important part of your pet's overall health—not just their teeth.
📅 Prevention is easier than treatment
The American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) recommends that pets receive regular oral examinations throughout life.
Routine dental examinations should be performed during wellness visits, while a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) under general anaesthesia is commonly recommended approximately every 6–12 months, depending on your pet's age, breed, lifestyle and dental health.
Early detection allows treatment before disease progresses to loose teeth, severe bone loss or painful infections.
Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT)
More than just a dental cleaning
A Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) is a complete diagnostic and therapeutic dental procedure, not simply a dental cleaning.
Unlike cosmetic teeth cleaning, COHAT allows us to perform a thorough assessment of your pet’s entire oral cavity under general anaesthesia, including evaluation of each tooth, periodontal tissues and structures beneath the gumline. This enables us to detect hidden dental disease, determine the most appropriate treatment, and provide effective care tailored to your pet’s individual needs.
Because more than 60% of each tooth lies below the gumline, many painful conditions cannot be identified through visual examination alone. General anaesthesia allows a safe, detailed assessment and treatment while minimising stress and discomfort for your pet.
What’s included in every COHAT
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General anaesthesia and patient monitoring
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Comprehensive oral examination
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Full-mouth dental radiographs
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Periodontal probing and assessment
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Dental charting
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Professional scaling and polishing
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Subgingival cleaning and debridement
Dental Radiography
Dental radiographs are an essential part of a comprehensive dental examination. While the visible crown is important, more than 60% of each tooth lies beneath the gumline, where many painful dental conditions develop unnoticed.
Dental X-rays allow us to evaluate the tooth roots, surrounding bone and supporting structures, enabling a complete diagnosis that cannot be achieved by visual examination alone.
Dental X-rays allow us to identify:
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Tooth root infection
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Tooth resorption
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Fractured roots
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Bone loss
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Retained roots
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Unerupted teeth
Feline Dentistry
Cats often hide signs of oral pain, and many dental conditions can progress unnoticed until they become severe. Our feline dental services focus on early detection, accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment for common feline oral diseases.
We provide assessment and treatment for:
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Tooth resorption
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Feline gingivitis and periodontal disease
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Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS)
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Juvenile gingivitis
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Oral masses and lesions
Home Dental Care
Professional dental treatment is an important part of maintaining your pet’s oral health, but ongoing home care is essential for long-term prevention. Regular plaque control helps slow tartar accumulation and reduce the risk of periodontal disease between veterinary dental assessments.
Recommended home dental care options include:
🪥 Tooth brushing
Daily tooth brushing is the gold standard for plaque control. Ideally, teeth should be brushed once daily, as plaque begins to form again soon after cleaning.
🦴 Dental diets and chews
Selected dental diets and chews can help reduce plaque and tartar accumulation through mechanical cleaning effects. We recommend choosing products with proven dental benefits, such as those approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC).
💧 Oral hygiene products
Dental gels, water additives and other oral hygiene products may provide additional support as part of a complete dental care plan.
Regular veterinary dental assessments remain important, as home care cannot remove existing periodontal disease or treat disease below the gumline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my pet need anaesthesia for dentistry?
A complete dental assessment and treatment requires your pet to remain still and comfortable. General anaesthesia allows us to safely examine every tooth, perform dental radiographs, assess periodontal tissues beneath the gumline, and provide thorough cleaning and treatment without causing stress or discomfort.
Many important dental problems occur below the gumline and cannot be properly diagnosed or treated in an awake patient.
What is the difference between COHAT and anaesthesia-free dental cleaning?
Anaesthesia-free dental cleaning only removes visible tartar from the tooth surface. It does not allow assessment of the tooth roots, periodontal pockets or structures below the gumline, where most significant dental disease occurs.
A COHAT performed under general anaesthesia allows a complete oral examination, dental radiographs, subgingival cleaning and appropriate treatment of underlying dental disease.
My pet is still eating. Do they really need dental treatment?
Yes. Dogs and cats often hide signs of pain and may continue eating despite significant dental disease.
Dental pain is often subtle and may present as:
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Bad breath
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Reduced chewing
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Dropping food
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Changes in behaviour
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Avoiding hard food or toys
By the time obvious signs appear, dental disease may already be advanced.
Why are dental X-rays necessary?
More than 60% of each tooth lies beneath the gumline. Dental radiographs allow us to evaluate areas that cannot be seen during a visual examination, including tooth roots, surrounding bone and periodontal structures.
Dental X-rays help identify conditions such as tooth resorption, root infections, bone loss and retained tooth roots.
Can periodontal disease be reversed?
The outcome depends on the stage of disease.
Early periodontal disease can often be managed successfully with professional dental treatment and ongoing home care. However, advanced periodontal disease with significant bone loss is usually irreversible.
Early diagnosis and treatment provide the best chance of preserving healthy, functional teeth.
How often should my pet have a dental assessment?
Dental assessment should be part of your pet’s regular wellness care. The frequency depends on individual factors such as age, breed, dental history and oral health status.
Many pets benefit from dental examinations every 6–12 months, while some may require more frequent monitoring.
Your veterinarian can recommend an appropriate dental care schedule based on your pet’s needs.