Cat Dentistry & Oral Surgery in Riverside

Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in cats — and one of the most overlooked. At Riverside Cat Hospital, our veterinarians provide complete feline dental care in Riverside, CA, from cleanings and full-mouth X-rays to extractions, all performed safely under anesthesia.

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What Feline Dental Care Involves

Good dental care goes well beyond a quick scrape of the teeth. Before any procedure, our doctors perform an oral exam to assess your cat’s needs, and every cleaning includes full-mouth dental X-rays — the only way to evaluate the roots and bone hidden below the gumline, where most feline dental disease begins. Cleanings include scaling to remove tartar and plaque, followed by polishing, and any necessary extractions are completed during the same visit. Handling extractions at the time of the dental spares your cat from a second round of anesthesia later on.

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Why Dental Health Matters

Protecting More Than Just Teeth

Untreated dental disease doesn’t just cause bad breath — it leads to chronic pain, tooth loss, and infection that can affect the heart, kidneys, and other organs. Because cats instinctively hide discomfort, many owners don’t realize their cat is suffering until the disease is advanced, which is why routine dental evaluations are so valuable.

Under Anesthesia

Every cleaning is done under anesthesia, allowing a thorough, pain-free exam and treatment below the gumline.

Full-Mouth X-rays

We X-ray the entire mouth with each cleaning to find root infections and hidden problems.

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What to Expect Before and After a Dental

Because dental procedures require anesthesia, your cat will need a pre-anesthetic exam and may need bloodwork beforehand to confirm your cat is a good candidate. Most cats go home the same day and recover quickly, especially when extractions relieve a long-standing source of pain.

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Oral Surgery

Our doctors are able to perform oral surgery when more involved treatment is needed, addressing damaged or diseased teeth beyond a routine cleaning.
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Home Care

We’ll guide you on at-home dental care and follow-up so your cat’s mouth stays healthier between professional cleanings.

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Common Questions About Cat Dental Care

Curious about your cat’s teeth? Here are answers to the dental questions we hear most from cat owners.

How often should my cat have a dental cleaning?

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At Riverside Cat Hospital, the right schedule depends on your cat's age and dental health, but many cats benefit from a professional cleaning every one to two years. During each wellness exam, our veterinarians check your cat's teeth and gums and recommend a cleaning when tartar, inflammation, or other signs of dental disease appear.

Why do cats need anesthesia for dental cleaning?

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Anesthesia allows us to clean below the gumline, take full-mouth X-rays, and perform extractions safely and without pain or stress for your cat. A cat can't hold still or tolerate these steps while awake, so anesthesia is essential for a thorough, accurate cleaning, and we monitor every patient closely throughout the procedure.

How do I know if my cat has dental problems?

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Common signs include bad breath, drooling, pawing at the mouth, dropping food, or eating less than usual — though many cats show no obvious symptoms at all. Because felines hide pain so well, dental disease is often discovered during a routine exam at Riverside Cat Hospital rather than noticed at home.

Will my cat need teeth extracted?

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Not always, but if X-rays or the exam reveal a tooth that's fractured, badly diseased, or causing pain, extraction is often the kindest option. We perform any needed extractions during the same procedure as the cleaning, which spares your cat from undergoing anesthesia a second time and provides faster relief.
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