Dental Quarter at Middle Brighton Vet - What is Involved and How to Book

One of the things we love most about this time of year is that it gives us a dedicated reason to talk about something that makes a real difference to how pets feel every single day.

Dental health is one of the most impactful areas of preventive care we can offer your pet, and one of the most rewarding when we stay on top of it together. A pet with a healthy mouth is a more comfortable, more energetic, more vibrant version of themselves. That is exactly what we are here to help you achieve.

Pets are remarkably good at carrying on regardless, which means dental changes can develop gradually and quietly over time. That is simply the nature of animals. A dedicated check-in gives us the chance to look closely, catch anything worth addressing early, and help your pet go into the months ahead feeling their best.

What is Dental Quarter?

From July through to September, Middle Brighton Vet dedicates a full quarter to pet dental health. It is our invitation to come in, take a look together, and make sure your pet's mouth is in great shape, with three months to find a time that works for you and your pet.

It is also worth knowing that dental health goes well beyond clean teeth. Good oral health supports heart, kidney, and liver health over a pet's lifetime. Investing in your pet's mouth is genuinely one of the best things you can do for their overall wellbeing.

Thriving Pets Wellness Plan members save on dental care

If your pet is on the Thriving Pets Wellness Plan, Dental Quarter is an especially good time to book in. Wellness Plan members receive $100 off dental procedures and $100 off pre-anaesthetic bloodwork, savings that make proactive dental care even more accessible.

If you are not yet on the plan and would like to find out more, take a look and try the savings calculator here. It takes about a minute and shows you exactly what you could save.

What does a dental check actually involve?

We start with a conscious exam while your pet is awake. We look at the visible teeth and gum line, check for tartar, assess the gums, and note anything worth keeping an eye on. We will always talk through what we find before suggesting anything further.

If we recommend a dental procedure, here is what that looks like:

A pre-anaesthetic assessment first. Depending on your pet's age and health, we may recommend blood and urine tests to make sure they are in great shape to go under. This is part of how we take good care of them.

General anaesthetic for the procedure itself. We know this feels significant, and we completely understand that. A thorough dental genuinely requires it, because the areas below the gum line where most build-up occurs simply cannot be reached safely on an awake animal. Your pet will be fully asleep and monitored continuously by our nursing team throughout.

Digital dental X-rays. This is where a lot of the value lives. Up to 60 per cent of each tooth sits below the gum line, invisible to the eye. X-rays let us see the full picture: root health, bone density, and anything developing beneath the surface. They are how we give you a genuinely complete assessment rather than a surface-level one.

Scale and polish. We remove tartar from above and below the gum line and finish with a smooth polish to help slow future build-up.

Extractions if needed. Not every dental requires extractions, by any means. But if a tooth genuinely cannot be saved, removing it is the kindest thing we can do for your pet's comfort. We use local anaesthetic blocks so they wake up feeling as comfortable as possible.

Why dental care at Middle Brighton Vet?

Dental health is something our whole team genuinely cares about, and a lot of that comes down to 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 places her among a very small number of GP vets in Melbourne with this level of expertise. But what she has done with that knowledge goes beyond her own consultations. Her passion for dentistry is infectious, and over time she has brought the whole team along with her, helping everyone here understand why oral health matters so deeply, what to look for, and how to have better conversations with owners about it.

The result is a team that approaches dental care with the same attention and care that Pey does. For the more complex procedures, Pey is there. For everything else, you can be confident that whoever you see genuinely understands and values this area of your pet's health.

Signs that a dental check might be timely

You do not need to see anything dramatic to book. Any of the following is simply a good prompt to come in:

• Breath that has changed or become noticeably stronger
• Favouring one side of the mouth, or going off hard food
• Dropping food while eating
• Pawing at the face
• Drooling more than usual
• Visible yellow or brown tartar on the teeth
• Gums that look a little red or puffy

And if your pet has not had a dental look-over in the past year, now is a natural time to tick that off.

Looking after teeth at home

Just like us, pets do better with regular care between visits, and home dental care is something we genuinely love helping owners get right.

Toothbrushing is the gold standard and most pets can learn to enjoy it, particularly when started early and introduced gently. If you have never tried or are not sure where to begin, we are very happy to show you at your next visit. It takes a few minutes and makes a real difference over time.

If brushing is not the right fit for your pet, dental diets, chews, and water additives all play a supporting role. We can recommend the options that make the most sense for your individual animal.

Questions we hear often

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

Yes, and we know that feels like a big step. But the areas that matter most, the space below the gum line where tartar does real damage, simply cannot be addressed safely on an awake animal. Non-anaesthetic cleaning addresses the surface only and leaves the underlying picture unchanged. The anaesthetic is what allows us to do the job properly and give your pet the best outcome.

How old does my pet need to be?

There is no minimum age. For most pets, tartar becomes more significant from around two years, which is when dental procedures become more routine. For older pets, pre-anaesthetic blood tests help us confirm they are in great shape to go ahead.

How long does the procedure take?

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

How often should we do this?

We include a dental assessment in every annual health check. How often a professional clean is recommended varies by individual, but once a year to every couple of years is typical for most dogs and cats with good home care in between.

Is dental care covered by pet insurance?

Procedures linked to illness or injury often are. Routine cleans are less commonly covered. It is worth checking your specific policy.

Do Thriving Pets Wellness Plan members get a discount on dental care?

Yes. Wellness Plan members receive $100 off dental procedures and $100 off pre-anaesthetic bloodwork during Dental Quarter. Try the savings calculator here to see what it could mean for your pet.

Come in this Dental Quarter

July through to September is a wonderful time to invest in your pet's dental health and set them up for a comfortable, healthy year ahead. We see dogs, cats, and rabbits, and we are always happy to welcome new clients from Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham, Bayside, and the surrounding suburbs.

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