Animal Dental Specialists / Client Information Center

Client Information Center

For New Clients: Please fill out our New Client Form by clicking here.

To see our Appointment Protocol, please click here.

What to Expect at the Consultation:

The consultation is a full awake exam with one of our doctors. The doctor will perform an oral exam on your pet and listen to their heart. We take photos of your pet's mouth with a digital camera. The doctor will use the photos to give you a guided tour through your pet’s mouth. They will discuss what they see, the different treatment options available, and answer all of your questions. Then, one of our Licensed Veterinary Technicians will provide you with an estimate for the proposed treatment option(s) tailored specifically to your pet and their health needs. If a procedure is recommended and you'd like to proceed with scheduling, the technician will place you on our surgery coordinator's list. The surgery coordinator will reach back out to you to schedule the procedure within one week. In order to reserve a surgery appointment, you will need to pay a $500 deposit. If your pet's surgery appointment is canceled or rescheduled with less than two weeks' notice, this deposit is forfeited.

What to Expect on the Procedure Day:

Admission for your pet’s procedure is at 7:00am. Expect to be here approximately 15 minutes to go over admission questions, paperwork, and paying the deposit. When you arrive, please give our office a call and the technician will go over admission questions with you. Then, they will collect your deposit if it hasn't been submitted yet. The surgery forms can either be submitted to our office digitally prior to admission, printed and provided during admission, or we will offer digital completion on our iPad during the admission appointment. We require signatures on both the Medical Authorization Form and the Estimate.

Once this all is completed, the technician will bring your pet inside and get their pre-anesthetic testing started. You are more than welcome to stay in our parking lot, stay in the area, or travel back home. We just ask you to let us know how long the drive will be for you so we can give you enough time to return. We will keep you updated throughout the day, but feel free to check in at any point. We will give you a call once the imaging is completed, again once your pet is awake from the anesthesia, and a third time to go over discharge instructions.

Since every patient is different in their recovery, we will schedule a time for them to go home when we call to go over the discharge instructions. Most often, discharge is anywhere from 4:30pm to 5:30pm, depending on the length of your pet's procedure and the speed of their recovery. When we call to go over the discharge instructions we will also collect payment for the remaining balance. Once you arrive to pick up your pet, we ask that you give us a call. We will then meet you at the door with your pet, their medications, and their printed discharge instructions.

For Your Reference:

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why is board certification for veterinary dental specialists important?

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Board of Veterinary Specialties recognizes only medical and surgical specialists that have completed board certification through their specialty organization. In North America, there is only one AVMA recognized specialty college for veterinary dentistry in horses and pets: the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC). A Board Certified Veterinary Dentist^TM and Board Certified Equine Veterinary Dentist^TM are titles reserved only for veterinarians who have successfully completed residency training through the AVDC and have passed the AVDC’s certifying examinations. These dental specialists, called diplomates, are uniquely qualified to perform advanced dentistry and oral surgery for patients, teach in veterinary schools, and provide continuing education in dentistry to veterinarians in general practice.
Why should I see a specialist for my pet’s dental problems?

Dentistry is a very broad and complex subject, which includes such disciplines as periodontics, endodontics, orthodontics, and oral surgery. Dr. Davis has had years of experience and advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of oral disease in animals. He was required to demonstrate his knowledge, skill and experience in order to be accepted as a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College. As general practitioners, veterinarians have training to manage most common dental problems in animal patients. Sometimes however, complicated dental problems are recognized which the general practitioner may not have the equipment or the training to manage. Such cases are then referred to a veterinary dental specialist such as Dr. Davis. Dr. Davis will maintain close communication with your veterinarian, to learn about your pet's overall health as well as the dental problem your pet has, ahead of your appointment. Following treatment, Dr. Davis will send a complete report to your regular veterinarian including photographs and diagnostic imaging of your pet for your veterinarian's hospital records.
How do I know that my pet’s dentist is a Board Certified Veterinary Dentist^TM?

Every Board Certified Veterinary Dentist^TM and Board Certified Equine Veterinary Dentist^TM can be found in the AVDC directory provided on this website. Diplomates of the AVDC are proud to serve our communities. To view this directory, click here.
What does it mean to be a Resident of Dental and Oral Surgery?

A Resident of Dental and Oral Surgery is a veterinarian that desires to complete a residency program in veterinary dentistry to become a Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™. A resident must complete a three to five year program, pass a written and practical exam before they can consider themselves a Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™.
Which veterinarian will be performing my pet's surgery?Either Dr. Davis, with Dr. Tetlow assisting, or Dr. Tetlow, under Dr. Davis's direct supervision. Both of our knowledgeable, experienced veterinarians will be directly involved in your pet's case, combining their skills and expertise to provide the highest level of care to your pet.
Do I need my veterinarian to refer us?

No, you may self refer to us. Although, a referral from your veterinarian does give us more insight as to what is going on with your pet.
Why should dentistry without anesthesia be avoided?

There are many limitations to an awake cleaning in your pet. To highlight a couple, many patients are unable to sit still with a x-ray film in their mouth to allow us to take a dental radiograph. These are crucial to getting the full picture of your pets oral health. Also, the instruments used can feel weird to them and may even be a little painful at times. You can find more information about it here. While anesthesia free cleanings might seem like a better option for your pet, they can be more detrimental to their overall oral health.
Why is animal dentistry important?

Dentistry is important primarily from the standpoints of infection control and pain relief for our animal patients. Because bacteria are normal inhabitants of the mouth, if not controlled and left untreated, this bacterial load may certainly compromise the health status of the whole patient. Infection of oral tissues does not remain only in the mouth. Oral tissues are served by a rich vascular supply, which disperse bacteria and the by-products of infection to the rest of the body. In addition to a rich blood supply, dental structures are well supplied by sensory nerves. Thus, oral disease is frequently very painful, especially in the acute stage. Most veterinary patients suffer silently, and don't communicate to their owners that a painful condition exists. It is rare for animals to stop eating due to dental pain, as most pet food is swallowed whole without chewing. Some animals need their teeth for function, such as military and police dogs, and dogs that assist humans with disabilities, who use their teeth to grasp objects the owners cannot. Animals use their teeth for recreation, holding things in their mouth such as a Frisbee or a toy mouse. Finally, the teeth help provide the contours of the face, giving our animal companions their unique aesthetic appeal.
What can I expect during my pet's dental cleaning?

This is a great video the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) created going over what to expect for your pet's dental cleaning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS66-VHi30g.
What is the difference between CPR and DNR?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is an emergency procedure performed in an attempt to restore the blood circulation and breathing to a patient who has suffered from cardiac arrest.

DNR, which stands for do-not-resuscitate, tells the medical team to NOT perform CPR on a patient. This means that if a patient stops breathing or the heartbeat stops, we will NOT attempt emergency CPR.

Statistics state that despite an initial 58% survival rate post initial CPR there is only a 3-6% survival rate to discharge in dogs and a 2-10% rate in cats.
My vet wants to extract my pet’s tooth, is that the only option?

Treatment options vary depending on what the issue is. We offer many services beyond extraction. We would recommend scheduling a consultation to go over all of your options with one of our doctors. You can learn more about the Common Conditions we treat.
Is there any paperwork I need to bring to my appointment?

We ask that you fill out our New Client Form online before coming to your consultation. If you are unable to do so, you may also print the form by clicking here. We can also provide you with a copy here. If there are any medical records that have not already been sent to us we ask you to bring those as well.
Can you provide me with an estimate for my pet’s recommended procedure?

Since every patient is different, in their oral needs, health needs, etc., we wait until after the doctor performs their exam during the consultation to build an estimate that is tailored specifically to your pet. Many aspects of our procedures can influence the end amount of our estimates. This is also why we do not keep “canned” estimates on file. Being a specialty office we provide a higher, specialized level of care for our patients.
What is included in your dental procedures?

All of our patients receive a pre-surgical examination, pre-anesthetic testing (CBC, chemistry, coagulation testing [PT, aPTT], blood pressure evaluation, and ECG with cardiologist review [if indicated]), general anesthesia, IV catheter placement, IV fluid therapy, dental cleaning and polishing, full-mouth dental radiographs and cone beam CT scan, medications in hospital and to go home with, and any treatment that is indicated and agreed upon.
My pet is still young. That means I don’t have to worry about having their teeth cleaned yet right?

We recommend yearly cleanings and imaging on all of our patients. It is true that dental disease is less common in our younger patients, however being proactive on their oral health can prevent dental disease later in life.
My puppy/kitten fractured a deciduous (baby) tooth. Since it will fall out on its own anyways, do I need to do anything?

A fractured deciduous tooth in a puppy or kitten, whether acutely fractured or discolored and non-vital, should be extracted immediately. Fractured puppy teeth have been associated with an increased risk of tetanus if the non-vital pulp becomes contaminated by Clostridium tetani bacteria.
Do you offer payment plans?

Yes, our office offers CareCredit and Scratchpay payment plans. For more information please visit their websites. We also offer interest free options through CareCredit. For transactions over $200 we offer 6 months no interest and for transactions over $5,000 we offer 12 months no interest.
Do you accept insurance?

We do. If you have Trupanion pet insurance, we are happy to process your pet's invoice via the Trupanion Express portal. For all other companies, we ask that you pay in full at the time of payment and work with your insurance company directly for reimbursement. We will provide the examination notes and invoice(s) for your claim.

Testimonials:

“My 7 year old GSD had broken 2 large upper molars and since the Capital District no longer has a local veterinary dentist, my regular vet gave me contact info for four different dental vets I could contact outside of Boston, Westchester and at Cornell. She did recommend that I contact Dr. Davis as several other clients had good things to say about him. And I am so glad I did contact him! From our initial consult to the post surgical appointment, every experience was top notch. On the day of his root canal/dental surgery, Dr. Davis and his team kept this worried dog mom informed and comforted throughout the whole day! They also contacted me each day for the next few days after his surgery to check on how my big guy was doing. I cannot recommend Animal Dental Specialists enough! Bentley and I think you guys ROCK!!” -Diana F.

“We had all of our one cat’s teeth removed and she was in such good hands here! I cannot recommend Animal Dental Specialists of Upstate New York enough. Thank you so much for your professionalism, kindness, and successfully helping our cat!” -Andrew A.

“They took great care of our kitty Sophie when she needed a full tooth extraction. Would definitely recommend!” -Kristina S.

“Love this place. Our dog Betty got recommended to go to an animal dental specialist. She never got taken care of before we adopted her three ago. She had bad teeth. We got recommended to see Animal Dental Specialists of Upstate NY. As one of the options available as vet dental specialists. Glad we did Dr. Eric Davis and his team arranged a consultation appt to meet him. He went through everything that needed to be done for Betty and how it would cost. We set up a time recently to get the dental work done. They kept us informed during the whole process as it's happening. We recently went back to him for a follow up on her teeth. She is doing great. I'm glad we saw him and the team. It's worth the 2 hour drive to Fayetteville/DeWitt area to save her teeth. They treat their patients like they are children with love. I would recommend anyone with dogs or cats to see him as a dental specialist for animals. Will continue to see them in the future. Thank you Dr. Eric Davis and staff at Animal Dental Specialists of Upstate NY for doing what you do.” -Pete S.

"Eddie and I do not have enough time for all of the good things that we could say about Dr. Davis and staff. Our kitty, Meeps, went from a depressed cat who lived her life in constant mouth/tooth pain, to a kitty with an incredible quality of life. She is now into everything, inquisitive, and playful. She sleeps in the sun and rolls on her belly for belly rubs. If I didn't do some digging online and had been able to read some other reviews written by other owners, we would not have been lucky enough to find your practice. The ride from Connecticut was about 4 hours, but it was worth every minute of it. Meeps appears completely healthy at this point, approximately 6 months after her surgery. Meeps' surgery was only a small part of the experience. Dr. Davis truly bonds with the animal and takes the time to explain everything to the owners. The after-care of Meeps was also well planned with consideration for her inability to eat and drink normally, as well as her pain level and medications to make her comfortable. After receiving Meeps' diagnosis of stomatitis, we felt hopeless because of the often poor outcomes of this disease. I had a renewed sense of hope after our initial visit with Dr. Davis and now we couldn't be happier with the outcome. Thank you." -Amanda B.

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