We Proudly Serve the Pets in Mill Valley, CA, and Beyond

At Aggie Animal Dental Center, we get a ton of interesting questions from pet parents. Below are some FAQs that might help answer any questions or concerns. Please feel free to call us at (415) 389-5917 for any other concerns you might have about your pet.

What services do you provide?

At Aggie Animal Dental Center, we offer a range of comprehensive dental and oral care services to ensure the best treatment for your pet’s health and comfort.

  • Advanced Anesthesia
  • Dental Cleaning and Periodontal Therapy
  • Intraoral X-rays and CT Scan
  • Jaw Fracture Repair
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Orthodontic Treatment
  • Root Canal Treatment
Why is home dental care important for my pet?
Routine dental care at home is essential to prevent dental disease, which can lead to pain, tooth loss, and other health complications. Brushing your pet’s teeth regularly and providing dental chews or toys can help reduce plaque and tartar buildup and maintain overall oral health.
Are there signs of dental problems I should look out for in my pet?
Common signs of dental issues include bad breath, difficulty eating, drooling, red or swollen gums, and discolored or loose teeth. If you notice any of these symptoms, consult with your veterinarian for a dental check-up.
What safety measures do you have in place for pet anesthesia?

At Aggie Animal Dental Center, we prioritize your pet’s safety with thorough pre-surgical assessments, individualized anesthesia plans, and continuous monitoring. Our team includes a Board-Certified Veterinary Anesthesiologist™, ensuring high standards of care. We also use IV catheterization for fluid and medication administration and take steps to manage pain and maintain body temperature, providing a safe and comfortable experience throughout the procedure.

What is root canal treatment for pets, and when is it needed?
Root canal treatment is a dental procedure used to treat tooth fractures in pets that expose the nerve or pulp. This can occur from trauma like chewing hard objects, collisions, or falls. If untreated, exposed nerves can lead to tooth-root abscesses, causing significant pain and infection. Root canal treatment helps prevent abscesses in over 90% of cases by removing the pulp, cleaning the canal, and sealing it to prevent bacterial growth. Most pets do not require a crown after treatment, but prosthodontic crowns are available for working dogs needing extra protection.
What if I don't want my pet's teeth extracted?
There are four primary reasons we would need to extract a tooth: 1) Periodontal disease: when inflammation in the gums (gingivitis) spreads to the bony tooth socket, the resulting bone loss will eventually make the tooth loose, and the tooth could fall out. By extracting teeth with severe bone loss, we are eliminating the inflammation and infection and helping to protect the teeth nearby from undergoing the same process. 2) Tooth resorption: in this disease, permanent teeth are destroyed by the cells that are normally present to dissolve the roots of baby teeth. If we don’t extract a resorbing tooth, it will continue the painful resorption process and will eventually break off on its own (which is also painful). 3) Broken teeth: In some cases, root canal treatment can save a broken tooth, but in many cases extraction is required. If broken teeth are not extracted, bacterial infection inside and around the tooth causes chronic inflammation and pain. 4) Stomatitis: in this disease, the pet is almost “allergic” to the plaque bacteria on the teeth, and this reaction causes oral ulcers and severe pain. Extracting the teeth eliminates the surfaces where bacteria grow and can resolve the inflammation and pain.

With all of these diseases, the affected teeth are a source of inflammation and pain, and extracting the teeth improves your pet’s comfort level and quality of life. While we love to save teeth when we can, your pet’s overall well-being is our highest priority.

What types of oral and maxillofacial surgeries do you perform?
We specialize in a variety of complex oral and maxillofacial procedures, including complicated tooth extractions, oral oncologic surgery (removal of part of the maxilla or mandible to treat an oral tumor), and the treatment of mandibular and maxillofacial fractures.