Advanced Dental Care for Your Patients | Partnering with Primary Care Vets
Just like humans, pets need regular dental care to maintain their overall health and well-being. At Helping Paws Animal Hospital, we collaborate with referring veterinarians to provide specialized veterinary dentistry for dogs and cats in Wheat Ridge, CO. Our comprehensive dental services include full-mouth digital X-rays, professional cleanings, extractions, and advanced periodontal care—all performed under safe general anesthesia to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
We have a deep understanding of the challenges general practice veterinarians face when managing complex dental cases. By referring patients to us, you can be confident they will receive high-quality, thorough care, while you remain an integral part of their long-term treatment plan.
Why Refer to Helping Paws Animal Hospital?
At Helping Paws Animal Hospital, we provide specialized, referral-based veterinary dentistry, allowing general practice veterinarians to offer advanced dental care without additional workload. Our team ensures expert diagnostics, surgical precision, and comprehensive post-operative support, all while maintaining clear communication with referring vets.
What We Offer:
By partnering with Helping Paws Animal Hospital, you can confidently refer complex dental cases, knowing that your patients will receive exceptional care, while you remain an integral part of their long-term treatment.
Veterinary Dentistry Services for Referred Cases
Helping Paws Animal Hospital offers specialized dental care for complex cases beyond the capabilities of general practice. Our expertise, advanced equipment, and patient-centered approach ensure pets receive the highest standard of oral health care, while referring veterinarians stay informed throughout treatment. Here’s a list of our services:
Comprehensive Oral Exams & Full-Mouth X-Rays
Professional Dental Cleanings & Periodontal Therapy
Surgical Extractions & Advanced Oral Surgery
Post-Operative Pain Management
Long-Term Oral Health Guidance
By referring patients to Helping Paws Animal Hospital, veterinarians can confidently offer specialized dental care without the need for additional surgical training or equipment, ensuring better long-term outcomes and improved patient comfort.
The Importance of Full-Mouth X-Rays in Veterinary Dentistry
Many pet owners (and even some veterinarians) underestimate the important role of full-mouth dental X-rays in diagnosing and treating oral disease in pets. While a visual examination can identify some issues, studies show that up to 60% of dental disease occurs beneath the gumline, making it impossible to fully assess a pet’s oral health without X-rays.
At Helping Paws Animal Hospital, we perform full-mouth digital radiographs on every referred dental patient, ensuring accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. This approach prevents undiagnosed pain, overlooked infections, and unnecessary tooth extractions.
With our state-of-the-art imaging, we can accurately identify:
By referring cases to us for full-mouth imaging and specialized care, you ensure a more precise diagnosis and better long-term outcomes for your patients. Submit a referral today and let us help improve your patients’ dental health!
Why General Anesthesia is Important for Safe, Effective Dental Procedures
Anesthesia is an important component of veterinary dentistry, ensuring safety, thorough treatment, and a pain-free experience for patients. Unlike human dentistry, where patients can stay still and follow instructions, pets require anesthesia to properly evaluate, diagnose, and treat dental disease.
At Helping Paws Animal Hospital, we follow strict anesthesia safety protocols to minimize risks and provide comprehensive monitoring before, during, and after every procedure. Our approach ensures that both referring veterinarians and pet owners feel confident in the safety and necessity of anesthesia for dental care.
Key Reasons Anesthesia is Necessary:
- Allows for a full oral exam, including subgingival assessment.
- Enables high-quality X-rays to detect hidden diseases.
- Prevents pain and anxiety for the patient.
- Ensures safe extractions and advanced periodontal care.
We follow strict anesthetic safety protocols, including:
- Pre-anesthetic blood work - Screening for liver, kidney, and cardiac function.
- IV catheter placement & fluids - Maintaining hydration and stable blood pressure.
- Continuous anesthetic monitoring - Tracking heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure.
- Customized anesthesia plans - Tailored protocols based on patient health and risk factors.
Addressing Pet Owner Concerns:
- Anesthesia is Safe for Senior Pets - Leaving dental disease untreated is far riskier than anesthesia. With proper screening and monitoring, most senior pets handle anesthesia well.
- The Risks of Anesthesia-Free Dentistry - These procedures only clean surface tartar and fail to treat hidden disease while causing unnecessary stress and restraint. The American Veterinary Dental College strongly advises against it.
Our goal is patient safety and comfort, ensuring each pet has a smooth recovery and minimal stress during the procedure.
Referring a Dental Case: How It Works
At Helping Paws Animal Hospital, we make the referral process simple and efficient for referring veterinarians. Our goal is to provide specialized dental care while ensuring seamless communication with your practice. From referral submission to post-operative follow-up, we work alongside your team to deliver the best possible outcomes for your patients.
- Submit a Referral - Call or use our online referral form to send case details.
- Pre-Procedure Consultation - We assess the pet’s medical history and schedule diagnostics.
- Surgery & Treatment - Full-mouth X-rays, professional cleanings, and extractions as needed.
- Post-Operative Updates - We provide a detailed case summary and recovery guidelines.
- Ongoing Support - We collaborate with you to manage post-op care and follow-up exams.
By partnering with Helping Paws Animal Hospital, you make sure expert dental treatment for your patients while maintaining continuity of care within your practice. Submit a referral today for stress-free collaboration and the best possible outcomes for your patients!
Information for Pet Owners
While our primary focus is supporting referring veterinarians, we also ensure that pet owners feel informed and confident about their pet’s dental care. Many owners worry about anesthesia, extractions, or recovery, so we provide clear guidance and reassurance throughout the process.
What Pet Owners Can Expect
- Before the Procedure - Pre-anesthetic exam, bloodwork, and health screening to ensure safety.
- During the Procedure - Pets are placed under anesthesia, undergo full-mouth X-rays, and receive cleaning, extractions, or periodontal treatment as needed.
- After the Procedure - We provide personalized discharge instructions, including pain management, dietary guidelines, and home care tips.
At-Home Dental Maintenance Tips
- Daily tooth brushing with pet-safe toothpaste.
- Veterinary-approved dental chews and diets to reduce tartar.
- Routine dental check-ups with their primary veterinarian.
We emphasize the importance of regular dental exams and cleanings at the pet’s primary veterinary clinic to maintain long-term oral health. For more information, pet owners can visit our For Pet Owners page or contact their referring veterinarian for routine care!
Partner with Us for Trusted Veterinary Dental Care
At Helping Paws Animal Hospital, we provide advanced, referral-based veterinary dentistry to help you manage complex dental cases with confidence. Our goal is to serve as a trusted extension of your practice, ensuring that your patients receive exceptional oral health care while you remain involved in their long-term treatment plan.
Submit a referral today and let us support you in delivering the highest standard of veterinary dental care.
Do You Have More Questions?
Call Us
(303) 537-7209
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Dentistry
What types of dental cases should be referred?
We accept cases requiring full-mouth X-rays, advanced periodontal treatment, surgical extractions, jaw trauma repair, and any complex dental procedures beyond routine prophylaxis. If you’re unsure about a case, we’re happy to discuss it with you.
How do I refer a case to Helping Paws Animal Hospital?
You can submit a referral through our online form or call our office directly. We’ll coordinate with you, schedule the procedure, and provide updates on your patient’s treatment and recovery.
How do you communicate with referring veterinarians?
We ensure seamless collaboration by providing pre-procedure consultations, post-operative reports, and timely updates. Our goal is to keep you informed so you can confidently manage your patient’s long-term care.
What type of anesthesia and monitoring do you provide?
We follow strict anesthetic safety protocols, including pre-anesthetic blood work, IV fluids, continuous monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and tailored anesthesia plans based on the patient’s health status.
How soon will pets be discharged after their procedure?
Most patients are discharged the same day, with detailed post-op care instructions for both the pet owner and referring veterinarian. We remain available for any follow-up questions or concerns.