WHAT TO EXPECT

At East Tennessee Veterinary Dentistry, we believe in clear communication and compassionate care. From the moment you arrive, our team will walk you through every step of your pet’s dental visit so you feel informed and confident in their care. We take the time to answer your questions, review your pet’s treatment plan, and ensure you understand what will happen before, during, and after the procedure. Our goal is to make the experience as stress-free as possible—for both you and your pet—while providing the highest standard of veterinary dentistry.

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What To Expect The Day of Your Pet's Procedure

We know how important your pet is to you, and our goal is to make their procedure day as smooth and stress-free as possible. Below are a few things to help you prepare and know what to expect.

Before Their Procedure

Fasting: Please do not feed your pet after midnight the night before their procedure. Water is okay unless told otherwise, and can be given right up until their appointment.

Morning check-in: When you arrive, you’ll meet with Dr. Burton. After a gentle exam, your pet will be admitted for their procedure.

Most procedures require anesthesia, which means your pet will stay with us for the better part of the day. We kindly ask that you keep your phone nearby so we can reach you with updates.

Day of and After Procedure

Once your pet is in recovery, we will call you with an update and let you know when they will be ready to go home.

At discharge, we’ll go over all home-care instructions and follow-up recommendations to help your pet recover comfortably.

Medications

Please let our team know about any medications your pet is currently taking. We’ll guide you on which ones should be given the morning of the procedure. If possible, please bring all of your pet’s medications with you on procedure day.

Bloodwork and Procedure Testing

To keep your pet as safe as possible under anesthesia, current blood work (CBC, chemistry panel, and sometimes urinalysis) within the past 3 months is required.

Senior pets: For pets over 8 years old, more recent blood work is recommended
Senior cats: A thyroid panel is also advised.

These tests can easily be performed by your veterinarian before your visit with Dr. Burton. Please ask your veterinarian to forward recent lab results, medical records, and any dental radiographs to us at etvetdental@gmail.com.

If you pet has a heart murmur, it is recommended that a cardiac evaluation be performed prior to anesthesia. Please call us with any questions.

Payment Options

Payment is due at the time of service. For your convenience, we accept all major credit cards.

We’re also happy to accept CareCredit, which offers flexible monthly payment plans (including some with 0% interest). Learn more or apply at CareCredit.com.