Dentistry Referral Information for Clients

Your pet’s teeth are the gateway to their well-being. Let us help you keep them healthy for years to come.

What is the big deal?

Normal mouths in pets have white teeth that are clean and attached to the gums smoothly. The number one sign of dental disease in a pet is halitosis, also known as bad breath!

In healthy pets’ mouths there is usually minimal to no odor, no gum irritation, no bleeding, or visible tartar. Unfortunately, plaque (the building block of tartar) is an invisible slime layer of bacteria on the teeth and that is what causes inflammation of the gums and destroys the surrounding bony attachments of the teeth. It isn’t the thick visible tartar or calculus that is the problem, it is the invisible plaque! This is periodontal disease.

Fun Fact: Did you know that periodontal disease in people is responsible for more medical issues in humans than cigarette smoking?

Bacteria from the mouth can also travel to vital organs in the body, such as the kidneys, liver, and heart, and cause permanent damage. Without regular care, your pet’s lifespan can be shortened dramatically. Fortunately, we can help reverse some of the issues related to periodontal disease. Once bone loss starts however, that is not reversible, so early intervention is key.

How do I help my pet?

Great news! With our help, your pet can live a healthier life, and it starts at home.

• Home care: Brushing your pet’s teeth with a pet toothpaste, (ideally after every meal), is the number one way to help prevent future dental problems. Pet mouth rinses and water additives are the next best way to help your pet’s mouth stay healthy. Finally, diets and treats that are geared toward dental health, are another small way we can keep your pet’s mouth from progressing rapidly into disrepair. If you do even one of these steps, every 2-3 days (that is how long it takes for plaque to turn to calculus), then you are miles ahead of anyone who is not doing anything! (Imagine what your teeth would feel and look like if you didn’t brush.)
• Veterinary visits: When you bring in your pet every year for their yearly examinations, we do a comprehensive physical which includes looking at your pet’s teeth. We discuss diet, brushing, and ways you can reverse mild gingivitis at home. We provide you with products that can help with your home care regimen and offer advice on what to do to limit the stress on you and your pet. However, sometimes your pet’s teeth need professional intervention. This is where we come in. We are able to assess the visible damage and make a plan for more in-depth, anesthetized dental treatment. This may be in a series of anesthetized visits based on the amount of repair that is needed. Our veterinarians will be able to give you a specific plan for your specific pet’s case.

Once your pet has been given a fresh start, you can resume home care and help slow the progression any damage has caused to your pet’s mouth.

Referral Patient Information

For non-Davis Animal Hospital clients

PAYMENT IS EXPECTED AT TIME OF SERVICE

We will not schedule an appointment without a referral from your veterinarian. Once we receive this referral, we will contact you to schedule your consultation.

Our consultation fee is $155. This fee will be applied towards your surgical cost if surgery is performed or scheduled that day.

If we plan to immediately schedule the dental procedure we require a dental procedure deposit of $520 upon scheduling.
The recheck fee is $30.

The consultation fee does not include the cost of any additional treatments or medications. An estimate of these procedures will be given to you for consent prior to being performed.

PAYMENT TYPES ACCEPTED

• We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, local check, and cash.
• We accept Care Credit with a 6 month deferred interest payment plan for visits exceeding $200.
  Visit Care Credit for more information and to get approval.

APPOINTMENTS AND SURGERY

Appointments are by referral only. Please contact your veterinarian to send us a referral.

Dr. Stephenson will call you when your pet is in recovery AFTER surgery. This may be after 5:00 PM as there are multiple surgeries that take place during the day.

Our location

We are located at 9051 N Davis Hwy in Pensacola.
We are approximately one mile from Hwy 90 and Interstate 10, just north of West Florida Hospital.