At Pearly Whites for Pets, we often receive questions about our services and their entailments.
This post will define our specialized service and explain how it fits into your pet’s comprehensive oral care routine.
Our Service: Cosmetic, Anesthesia-Free, Above-the-Gum-Line Teeth Cleaning
PWfP offers a specific, non-medical procedure: cosmetic, anesthesia-free, above-the-gum-line teeth cleaning for dogs and cats. See a brief intro video.
Let’s break this down:
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- Cosmetic: We work to remove visible tartar and plaque from the exposed part of the tooth, above the gum line.
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- Anesthesia-Free: Our trained practitioners use gentle, calming techniques to help your pet relax, allowing us to perform the cleaning without the need for anesthesia, sedation or drugs. This approach is suitable for many pets who are comfortable with gentle handling.
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- Above-the-Gum-Line Cleaning: This is a crucial distinction. Our service is limited to cleaning the visible surfaces of the teeth above the gum line using specialized hand instruments. As a finishing touch to help smooth the tooth surface, PWfP proudly utilizes professional polishers, leaving your pet’s teeth with a truly radiant shine. We do not address dental disease.
In Ontario, Canada, the regulatory landscape, guided by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) and established case law, permits non-veterinarians to perform cosmetic teeth cleaning that is strictly above the gum line, provided it is clear that these services are cosmetic in nature and not a substitute for veterinary dental care. PWfP operates carefully within these guidelines, ensuring our service is presented accurately as a cosmetic procedure.
Complementary Care, Not a Replacement for Veterinary Dentistry
It is vital for pet owners to understand that our cosmetic cleaning service complements, but does not replace, professional veterinary dental care.
Veterinarians are equipped to perform comprehensive oral health assessments, which include:
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- Examinations below the gum line
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- Dental X-rays to assess the health of tooth roots and bone
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- Diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease, infections, and other oral health problems
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- Extractions and other necessary medical or surgical dental procedures
These are services that Pearly Whites for Pets does not, and legally cannot, provide.
We see ourselves as part of your pet’s wider oral care team. Over the years, we have referred hundreds of pets to seek necessary veterinary dental care when our practitioners observed issues during cosmetic cleanings that required a veterinarian’s expert attention. We believe that by working together with your veterinarian, we can all contribute to your pet’s happy and healthy life. Teamwork!
If you have concerns about your pet’s dental health, we always encourage you to consult your veterinarian first.
For more information about our services, please visit our Home page, follow us on social media (@petpearlywhites), or call us at 416.504.1019.