Broken tooth, bad breath or swollen gums?
A broken tooth, persistent bad breath, or swollen and painful gums can be signs of dental disease that needs veterinary attention. Depending on what we find, a damaged tooth may need treatment or extraction. We examine your pet’s mouth, take dental X-rays to evaluate what is happening below the gumline, and, when appropriate, perform the necessary dental treatment under anesthesia.
What you are seeing
Schedule a dental evaluation if you notice
Pets can have significant dental pain and still continue to eat, which makes oral disease easy to miss.
- A chipped, broken, loose, or discolored tooth
- Persistent bad breath
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Yellow or brown tartar buildup
- Difficulty chewing, chewing on one side, or dropping food
- Excessive drooling or pawing at the mouth
- Swelling below the eye or along the face, which may indicate a tooth-root infection
Cats can be especially good at hiding dental pain. A cat with tooth resorption — a painful condition in which the tooth structure is progressively destroyed — may chatter or react when the affected tooth is touched, change the way it eats, or stop grooming normally.
What we do
Much of dental disease is under the gumline
Many important dental problems occur below the gumline, where they cannot be seen during an awake oral examination. A tooth that looks normal on the surface can still have disease affecting the root or surrounding bone.
- A complete oral examination, with each tooth probed and recorded on a dental chart
- Full-mouth dental X-rays to evaluate the tooth roots and surrounding bone
- Treatment of periodontal disease
- Extraction when a tooth cannot be saved, with local nerve blocks for pain control
- Ultrasonic scaling and polishing
Anesthesia
Why it needs anesthesia
A complete dental procedure requires examining, probing, X-raying, cleaning, and treating the teeth above and below the gumline. This cannot be performed thoroughly or safely on an awake patient.
How we prioritize anesthetic safety
Animal Republic is AAHA-accredited, and careful anesthesia protocols and monitoring are an important part of that standard. Dental patients receive the same level of anesthetic care as surgical patients, including an individualized anesthetic plan, continuous monitoring, active temperature support, and multimodal pain management.
We do not offer anesthesia-free dental cleanings. They cannot provide a complete examination or dental X-rays, and they cannot safely clean and treat disease below the gumline.
Afterward
What to expect after dental treatment
Many owners notice improvements in comfort, eating habits, activity, or breath after painful dental disease has been treated.
We will explain what we found and review any recommended treatment with you. After the procedure, your pet goes home with written discharge instructions, appropriate pain medication, and a clear plan for recovery and home dental care.
Common questions
Questions we are asked
Will the tooth definitely need to come out?
Depending on what we find, a damaged tooth may need treatment or extraction. We examine your pet’s mouth, take dental X-rays to evaluate what is happening below the gumline, and, when appropriate, perform the necessary dental treatment under anesthesia.
Is a broken tooth urgent?
A break that exposes the pulp (the living center of the tooth) is painful and can abscess, so it should be seen this week, not next month. A facial swelling under the eye, or a pet who will not eat at all, should be seen sooner — call (714) 274-9305.
Why don't you offer anesthesia-free cleaning?
We do not offer anesthesia-free dental cleanings. They cannot provide a complete examination or dental X-rays, and they cannot safely clean and treat disease below the gumline.
Call us or schedule a visit
Call us with your questions, or to schedule a visit for your pet.
- Address
- 6937 Warner Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92647 - Hours
- Monday – Saturday, 9 AM – 8:30 PM · Tue to 6 PMSunday: closed.
- Phone
- (714) 274-9305