FAQ Atlanta Veterinary Dentistry

Most Frequently Asked Questions By Pet Parents About Dog And Cat Dentistry

Are there any other boarded veterinary dentists in the Atlanta area?  

Dr. Beckman is the only board certified veterinary dentist in Georgia.  Other “dentistry services”  clinics give the impression that they are specialty practices when in reality they have no such qualifications.

Can the doctor clean my dog’s teeth without anesthesia?

Cleaning the tartar off of the crowns is merely a cosmetic procedure. The majority of a pet’s dental problems occur under the gum line. A complete assessment including probing and dental X-ray is critical in finding disease early so that it can be treated and ultimately prevent tooth loss. This assessment cannot be performed on an awake patient.

Do I need a referral to schedule an appointment?

A direct referral from the general veterinarian is preferred. If your veterinarian did not refer you, we will still need them to be kept informed of your visit. Blood work and a complete physical exam is required by your veterinarian within 2 months of the appointment. We also send a complete dental report following the procedure to your regular veterinarian.

Is my pet too old to be anesthetized?

Age is not the most important factor when determining anesthetic risk. The overall physical and biochemical health of the patient are by far he most important factors that determine anesthetic safety. We require at minimum a complete physical exam and preanesthetic blood profile to be performed by your veterinarian prior to the appointment to detect any health issues that may need to be addressed before anesthesia. We also require a heart workup if a murmur is detected by your veterinarian. Other health conditions may require a more through workup.

My pet has a fractured tooth. Can the tooth be saved?

Yes, in most cases we can perform either a restoration to seal the tooth (if the pulp chamber is not exposed) or a root canal and crown (if the pulp chamber is exposed).

What services does the Doctor perform?

We are a full service veterinary dentistry and oral surgery practice. All procedures are performed ranging from cleaning and assessment, root canals, restorations and managing periodontal disease. Dr. Beckman specialize in advanced oral surgery including mass excision for oral cancer, jaw fracture repair, cleft palate repair and post trauma reconstructive surgery.

What type of payment is required?

Payment at the time of service is required. We accept cash and all major credit cards. Checks are not accepted. We also accept Care Credit, a line of credit which incurs no interest charges if paid within 6 months. Please visit carecredit.com for more information or to apply.

What’s the difference between a Boarded Dentist and my regular veterinarian?

To become boarded in dentistry, a 4 year residency program with a veterinary dentist must be completed following graduation from an accredited veterinary school. Dentists and ophthalmologists are the only two veterinary specialties required to complete a grueling practical examination examination and a written exam before receiving their credentials. Unfortunately veterinarians in general receive little, if any, training in dentistry in that it is not a part of the curriculum for most veterinary schools.

When is the doctor in town next?

Click the calendar to see where Dr. Beckman is Seeing Patients

Will my pet be in pain after the procedure?

Dr. Beckman is the only veterinarian in the world who is board certified in pain management and dentistry. One of our top priorities with all of our dental patients is patient comfort and fast recovery times. We are able to provide pain relief before, during and after a procedure. Most of our patients are eating only a few hours after a procedure. We routinely perform nerve blocks (numbing the area) to provide several hours of post operative pain management. We have established successful medication protocols for the days following the procedure to keep your pet comfortable at home.

Will my pet be monitored during anesthesia?

Yes. Dr Beckman supervise anesthesia while the anesthesia technician continually monitors and records all patient anesthetic parameters and vital signs. State of the art equipment is used to instantaneous track changes in pulse oximetry, respirations, temperature, blood pressure, CO2 levels and heart rate. are monitored using a multi parameter anesthetic monitor. We keep our patients extremely light under anesthesia thanks to the nerve blocks which allow us to maintain a near waking state in almost all patients.

Will my pet go home the same day?

Yes, our patients go home the same day, alert and happy (thanks to a large part the nerve blocks) and often within an hour or two of the procedure.

Will the procedure be done the same day?

For your convenience we typically schedule appointments as consultations in the morning and surgery is performed that same day.

Atlanta Veterinary Dentistry

Atlanta Veterinary Dentistry