Our Approach
The Calico Way
At Calico, our mission is simple: To provide your cat with a safe and comfortable veterinary experience while delivering exemplary dental care.
We achieve this through a combination of thorough pre-anesthetic screening and comprehensive dental services, each exemplifying the highest standards of care, in a clinic setting specifically designed for your cat’s emotional well-being.
Book AppointmentWe achieve this through a combination of thorough pre-anesthetic screening and comprehensive dental services, each exemplifying the highest standards of care, in a clinic setting specifically designed for your cat’s emotional well-being.
Preanesthetic health screenings
Pre-procedure testing allows us to establish your cat’s health baseline and identify hidden conditions to ensure they are fit for anesthesia. Our test protocol includes systemic blood work, urinalysis, and heart health screening (BNP
, ECG) for all cats.
Additional testing may be recommended based on your cat’s age, including thyroid, blood pressure, and cancer screening. Finally, an echocardiogram may be advised for cats with a heart murmur, arrhythmia, or elevated BNP, or for certain breeds that are more prone to developing heart disease, such as Maine Coons and other purebred cats.
Additional testing may be recommended based on your cat’s age, including thyroid, blood pressure, and cancer screening. Finally, an echocardiogram may be advised for cats with a heart murmur, arrhythmia, or elevated BNP, or for certain breeds that are more prone to developing heart disease, such as Maine Coons and other purebred cats.
Safe, modern anesthesia
Proper anesthesia is the cornerstone of safe dentistry. Each patient’s anesthetic protocol is tailored to their unique health and needs, creating the ideal balance of sedation and pain relief necessary for safety, comfort, and a thorough procedure. With continuous electronic and dedicated hands-on monitoring, our team receives real-time biofeedback, allowing us to make precise adjustments as needed to support your cat’s well-being.
Comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment (COHAT)
The COHAT is a thorough, multi-step evaluation of your cat’s oral cavity and dental health. It’s the process that most people refer to as “a dental,” but involves much more than cleaning teeth. Instead, it includes comprehensive dentistry services, including:
- Photographs before and after examination and treatment
- Full-mouth dental X-rays before and after treatment
- Evaluation of oral structures and oral cancer screening
- Tooth scaling, probing, and polishing
- Dental charting of any abnormal findings and treatments performed
- Oral surgery as indicated
Full-mouth dental X-rays
Full-mouth intraoral radiography is required to identify disease below the gum line and ensure complete removal of affected teeth and their roots. With real-time digital imaging, we provide a complete diagnostic and treatment plan with detail and accuracy.
Evaluation of oral structures
Oral health involves more than teeth. Abnormalities in the surrounding structures and tissues (such as the tongue, lymph nodes, and palate) can suggest underlying problems affecting your cat’s overall health. Subtle tissue changes are best detected during an anesthetized oral exam, and catching these changes early is critical for the best chance of successful intervention.
Dental cleaning, probing, and charting
Every procedure begins with ultrasonic scaling to remove plaque and calculus so that we can visualize and accurately assess each tooth to identify disease above and below the gum line.
Once the teeth are clean, we probe each tooth to check for tooth resorption, periodontal disease, fractured teeth, and occlusal trauma. All abnormal findings are recorded on your cat’s dental chart, and treatment can begin. For any remaining teeth, we complete the cleaning with hand scaling and polishing to ensure a smooth, plaque-free surface.
Once the teeth are clean, we probe each tooth to check for tooth resorption, periodontal disease, fractured teeth, and occlusal trauma. All abnormal findings are recorded on your cat’s dental chart, and treatment can begin. For any remaining teeth, we complete the cleaning with hand scaling and polishing to ensure a smooth, plaque-free surface.
Oral surgery: Extractions
Dental extraction (tooth removal) is an effective and appropriate solution to most painful or inflammatory oral conditions in cats. Each extraction is performed with meticulous care and precision using feline-specific dental instruments, gentle dissection and suture techniques, and multi-step pain management to ensure patient comfort and accelerate healing.
Oral surgery: Caudal or full-mouth extractions
While individual tooth extractions may be sufficient in some cases, there are situations where a more extensive approach is needed.
Caudal mouth extractions involve extracting all teeth behind the canines, or “fang” teeth, in the front of the mouth. Full-mouth extractions (removing all teeth) may be recommended in cases of extensive dental disease or conditions such as stomatitis and juvenile gingivitis/periodontitis.
Although this action sounds radical, caudal or full-mouth extraction is often beneficial for a cat’s overall health and quality of life. While some teeth may be unaffected by your cat’s condition, removing only the damaged teeth can lead to changes in symmetry and function of the remaining teeth. When this happens, new occlusal trauma may develop and need treatment at a future dental procedure. Thanks to Dr. Abrahams’ extensive feline-specific dental experience, she can counsel you through these various scenarios to best meet your needs and circumstances.
Above all else, you can rest assured that cats don’t need teeth! Patients receiving full-mouth extractions enjoy a wonderful quality of life and can eat and play like normal cats. Our delicate techniques and multi-modal pain management program ensure continuous comfort during the procedure and throughout your cat’s recovery.
Many cat owners notice a big change after treatment, describing their cats as more playful, affectionate, and engaged once the source of chronic pain is gone!
Caudal mouth extractions involve extracting all teeth behind the canines, or “fang” teeth, in the front of the mouth. Full-mouth extractions (removing all teeth) may be recommended in cases of extensive dental disease or conditions such as stomatitis and juvenile gingivitis/periodontitis.
Although this action sounds radical, caudal or full-mouth extraction is often beneficial for a cat’s overall health and quality of life. While some teeth may be unaffected by your cat’s condition, removing only the damaged teeth can lead to changes in symmetry and function of the remaining teeth. When this happens, new occlusal trauma may develop and need treatment at a future dental procedure. Thanks to Dr. Abrahams’ extensive feline-specific dental experience, she can counsel you through these various scenarios to best meet your needs and circumstances.
Above all else, you can rest assured that cats don’t need teeth! Patients receiving full-mouth extractions enjoy a wonderful quality of life and can eat and play like normal cats. Our delicate techniques and multi-modal pain management program ensure continuous comfort during the procedure and throughout your cat’s recovery.
Many cat owners notice a big change after treatment, describing their cats as more playful, affectionate, and engaged once the source of chronic pain is gone!
Comprehensive pain management
Pain can impact every aspect of your cat’s well-being, which is why we adopt a proactive approach to minimize or prevent discomfort at every stage. To ensure your cat’s comfort before, during, and after their procedure, we use a comprehensive combination of systemic and local pain medications, such as continuous rate infusions (CRIs), long-acting pain relief injections, and local nerve blocks. This approach allows us to manage pain effectively while anticipating and preventing future discomfort.
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