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Dental Cleaning
What is a COHAT (Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment)?
A COHAT is essential for maintaining your pet's oral and overall health. Periodontal disease can cause chronic inflammation, leading to issues beyond the mouth, such as in the nasal cavity, kidneys, heart, and even the brain. Proper dental care significantly improves your pet's quality of life, ensuring their mouth remains pain-free and free of infection.
To help you better understand the process, here’s a breakdown of the steps involved in a COHAT:
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Before the COHAT:
Physical Exam: We may notice signs like plaque, tartar, or gum inflammation during routine exams, indicating the need for a COHAT.
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Preoperative Blood Work: This helps evaluate your pet’s overall health and assess the safety of anesthesia.
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Day of COHAT:
Drop-Off: You’ll meet with the veterinary technician to go over consent forms and estimates.
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Pre-Anesthetic Exam & Medications: Your pet receives a final check and medication for pain and nausea before anesthesia.
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IV Catheter & Fluids: An IV is placed to ensure proper hydration and maintain blood pressure.
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Anesthesia & Monitoring: We use injectable and inhaled anesthetics, and your pet is carefully monitored throughout the procedure.
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Intra-Oral Radiographs & Charting: X-rays and a thorough examination of each tooth allow us to detect hidden dental issues.
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Scaling, Polishing, & Cleaning: We clean above and below the gum line, polish the teeth, and remove debris.
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Tooth Extraction: If necessary, we may perform extractions, and you’ll be notified during the procedure.
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After the COHAT:
Recovery: Your pet will wake up from anesthesia under close supervision.
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Discharge: You'll receive detailed post-care instructions at discharge.
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Follow-Up: We will call to check on your pet the day after the procedure. If extractions were performed, a follow-up visit will ensure proper healing.
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​​At-Home Care:
Implementing home dental care, such as brushing and using dental products with the VOHC seal, will help maintain your pet’s oral health and reduce the need for future procedures.
By prioritizing your pet's dental care, we aim to improve their overall health and well-being!
Anesthesia Free Dental
Here at North Scottsdale Animal Hospital we do not perform nor recommend anesthesia free dentistry. Anesthesia free dental procedures have no way of cleaning beneath the gum line and make it impossible to do x-rays. Radiographs are vital in detecting dental problems. Learn more about the risks of anesthesia free dentals at www.avdc.org/afd