Dental Care for Dogs and Cats in American Fork
Pet dental care helps protect your companion’s comfort, appetite, and overall well-being. Utah Veterinary Hospital provides professional dental evaluations and treatment for dogs and cats, with clear guidance before and after each procedure. We’ll help you understand what your pet needs and how to support better oral health at home.
More Than Fresh Breath
Bad breath may be the first sign pet owners notice, but dental disease can cause much more than an unpleasant smell. Plaque and tartar can irritate the gums, contribute to infection, and make eating or chewing uncomfortable.
Pets often hide oral pain, so problems may not be obvious right away. Watch for changes such as dropping food, chewing on one side, reduced appetite, drooling, pawing at the mouth, facial swelling, or reluctance to play with toys. Loose, broken, or discolored teeth also warrant an examination.
During routine wellness and preventative care, we’ll examine your pet’s mouth and discuss any concerns. When professional treatment is recommended, our team will explain the next steps and answer your questions.
Professional Dental Treatment
Professional dental care allows us to clean and evaluate areas of your pet’s mouth that can’t be adequately addressed through brushing alone. Utah Veterinary Hospital provides comprehensive dental treatment that may include scaling and polishing, examination and probing of the teeth and gums, dental X-rays, and treatment of damaged or diseased teeth.
When needed, Dr. Rivera also performs single- and multi-rooted tooth extractions and a range of oral surgical procedures. These may include treatment for dental abscesses, abnormal oral growths, oronasal fistulas, and other conditions affecting the mouth.
Dental X-rays provide important information about tooth roots and structures beneath the gumline. Because these areas aren’t visible during a surface examination, imaging can help Dr. Rivera determine the most appropriate treatment for an affected tooth.
Anesthesia, Monitoring & Comfort
A thorough dental procedure requires anesthesia so your pet can remain still and comfortable while we safely examine and treat the entire mouth. We may recommend pre-anesthetic diagnostics based on your pet’s age, health, and medical history.
Throughout anesthesia, patients receive dedicated veterinary technician monitoring, along with equipment that tracks key parameters such as heart rate, breathing, oxygenation, blood pressure, temperature, ECG, and carbon dioxide levels.
Pain control is tailored to the procedure and your pet’s individual needs. Before your pet goes home, we’ll review medications, feeding recommendations, oral care, and anything else you’ll need to know for recovery.
Supporting Oral Health at Home
Professional care works best when paired with consistent home habits. Depending on your pet, we may recommend toothbrushing with pet-safe toothpaste, approved dental products, or other ways to reduce plaque buildup between visits.
We’ll help you choose an approach that feels realistic for your household. Starting slowly and building a routine can make home dental care easier for both you and your pet.
Utah Veterinary Hospital also offers dental treatment packages that may help qualifying families manage the cost of recommended care. Please call our team to confirm current package details, inclusions, and eligibility.
Call (801) 692-1563 to schedule a dental evaluation or ask about professional dental care for your pet.