ATP is More than "Dental Cleaning"

A = Assessment  T = Treatment P = Prevention

While, “cleaning the teeth” is important, it is just one small aspect of your pets oral health care. The very process of removing plaque and calculus may actually be harmful if not performed by skilled professionals using the proper equipment.  Furthermore, if the veterinarian does not have dental radiography they have no means to properly diagnose anything beneath the gum line and therefore are, “just guessing” as to the condition of the pet’s mouth. As a member of the American Veterinary Dental Society, Keith L. Clark, DVM has invested a lot into training and equipment. Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center is proud to have invested in one of the few dental radiograph machines in Spokane. Furthermore, Dr. Clark is trained and competent to perform advanced dental procedures such as endodontics (root canals), surgical  extractions, gingival surgeries, and more. Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center goes beyond, “dental cleaning” to perform a complete ATP.

A= Just as in human dentistry, Dr. Clark assesses the entire oral health. Each tooth is assessed above and below the gum line. The tissue and surrounding areas are evaluated. This is accomplished with the use of periodontal probing and dental radiography. Many dental issues are hidden beneath the gum line and require special equipment such as a dental xray to properly diagnose. We have a digitial converter for our radiographs. Dr. Clark pays an additional fee to have 24 hour access to board certified specialist should he need another opinion or desire additional consultation.

T= Each tooth is treated for disease as needed. For instance a molar may require deep root scaling where an anterior (front tooth) may only require a light polish. Dr. Clark has the skill and knowledge to perform advanced treatments such as root canals, surgical extractions, gingival surgery, etc.  We use the same equipment used by our human counterparts. Treatments vary from mouth to mouth just as they do in humans. This is why the generic or blanketed approch of performing a, "dental" does not reflect the needs of the individual pet. Would you want to go to a dental professional that examines your mouth and addresses your specific healthcare needs or would you be satisfied going to a practice that believes in the same generalized care for all patients. 

P= An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is especially true in the area of veterinary dentistry. We follow up our dental prophylaxis treatment with fluoride. Once an ATP procedure has been performed our clients are entitled to our smiles program. This is free and includes a complimentary application of ora-vet jel application. For the next 12 months we encourage our clients to come in for a complimentary oral assessment. This allows our staff to evaluate the status of your pets oral health and help support the efforts our clients are making at home to maintain good oral health. Dr. Clark has a plan to keep healthy pet's healthy. This may include periodontal immunizations, tarter control diets, oral rinses or plaque reducing treats.