Your Dental Quarter Guide: What Is Included and How to Book

July to September is Dental Quarter at Middle Brighton Vet, and every year it gives us a chance to do something we genuinely love: take a really good look at your pet's mouth.

Dental health sits quietly behind so much of how a pet feels day to day. A pet with a comfortable, healthy mouth eats better, plays better, and just feels more like themselves. Dental Quarter is our invitation to make sure that picture is as good as it can be for your animal. As an extra incentive, we are offering $100 off any dental procedure booked and completed during this period.

This is the practical guide to what actually happens, from the first phone call through to the follow-up at home.

How to book

Call us on (03) 9592 9811 or book a consultation online at middlebrightonvet.com.au. When you book, just let us know you would like a dental health assessment. We will schedule the right amount of time.

If your pet has not had a dental check in the past year, Dental Quarter is a natural time to come in. You do not need to have noticed anything wrong. According to the Australian Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show some level of dental disease by the age of three. Most of them show no signs at all.

Step one: the conscious exam

Every dental assessment starts with a thorough examination while your pet is awake. We look at the visible teeth and gum line, check for tartar build-up, gingivitis, tooth fractures, and anything that looks out of the ordinary.

You know your pet. If you have noticed bad breath that has changed, food dropping from the mouth, pawing at the face, or reluctance to chew on one side, please mention it. Those observations matter and help us look in the right places.

We will talk through what we find before recommending anything further.

If we recommend a dental procedure

Not every dental assessment leads to a procedure. But when it does, here is what the process involves:

• Pre-anaesthetic assessment. Before any procedure, we run a physical exam and, depending on your pet's age and health, recommend blood and urine tests to confirm they are safe for anaesthesia. This is one of the most important steps, and we do not skip it.
• General anaesthetic. We know this gives some owners pause, and that is completely understandable. A proper dental requires anaesthetic because the most important work happens below the gum line, where tartar causes the most damage and where we simply cannot reach safely on an awake patient. Your pet is fully asleep throughout, monitored continuously by our nursing team.
• Digital dental X-rays. Up to 60% of each tooth sits below the gum line. X-rays let us see what is happening at root level: bone density, signs of infection, abscess, disease that looks perfectly fine from the surface. We will not know the full picture without them, and we think you deserve the full picture.
• Scale and polish. We remove tartar from above and below the gum line, then finish with a smooth polish to slow future build-up.
• Extractions if needed. Not every procedure requires extractions. When a tooth genuinely cannot be saved, removing it is almost always the kindest option for your pet's comfort. We use local anaesthetic blocks so they wake up as comfortable as possible.

Why dental health is a whole-body issue

We talk about dental disease as a mouth problem, but it does not always stay there. Untreated dental disease has been linked to changes in heart, kidney, and liver health over time. Looking after your pet's mouth is looking after the rest of them too.

About our team's approach to dentistry

Dental health is something every member of our team genuinely cares about, and a lot of that comes from Pey. Dr Pey Hor holds a MANZCVS in Small Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery through the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, a postgraduate qualification that very few GP vets in Melbourne hold. Her passion for this area has shaped how the whole team approaches it. For more complex procedures, Pey leads. For everything else, whoever you see will look at your pet's mouth with the same care and attention.

Thriving Pets members save during Dental Quarter

If your pet is on the Thriving Pets Wellness Plan, Dental Quarter is a particularly good time to book in. Members receive $100 off dental procedures and $100 off pre-anaesthetic bloodwork. Not yet on a plan? Take a look at the savings calculator at thrivingpets.com.au/thriving-pets.

Home dental care between visits

Home care makes a real difference. Toothbrushing is the most effective approach and most pets can be taught to accept it, particularly when you start gradually and positively. We are happy to show you how at any visit.

If brushing is not practical, dental diets, chews, and water additives all play a supporting role. Ask our team what makes the most sense for your individual pet.

Frequently asked questions

Does my pet really need to go under anaesthetic for a dental clean?

Yes. The work below the gum line, where most damage occurs, cannot be done safely on an awake patient. Non-anaesthetic surface cleaning leaves the real problem untouched. The anaesthetic is what allows us to do the job properly.

How long does the procedure take?

Usually between 45 minutes and two hours, depending on what we find. Your pet goes home the same day, and we will call you when they are ready.

How often should a pet have a professional dental?

Once a year is the best way to keep your pet's mouth in great shape, and to save money in the long run. If that is not feasible, at least every couple of years, depending on the individual, their breed, and how much home care happens between visits.

Is dental care covered by pet insurance?

Procedures related to illness or injury often are. Routine cleans are less commonly covered. Worth checking your specific policy.

Come in during Dental Quarter

We see dogs, cats, and rabbits at our Brighton clinic on Hampton Street. We are open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm, and we are currently welcoming new clients from Brighton, Bayside, Hampton, Sandringham, and surrounding suburbs.

Call us on (03) 9592 9811 or book online. We would love to see them.