Florida’s First Non-Anesthetic Pet Dental Spa, HealthySmiles, Launches in South Florida
Imagine if the sights, sounds and smells of your pet’s dental office resembled those of a pampering spa. Meet HealthySmiles Pet Dental, Florida’s first non-anesthetic pet dental spa located in Plantation, Florida. In conjunction with their launch, Healthy Smiles Pet Dental is offering the first 1,000 guests their first pet dental for $99 with promo code SMILES.
Pets are greeted by aroma and sound therapy featuring relaxing scents and sounds that create a calming atmosphere. CBD relaxation options are also available. The cageless and open concept environment featuring glass playpens ensures less stress and faster treatments. In addition, because it's non-anesthetic, it’s safe. No medications are used and no down time is required.
HealthySmiles’ warm, contemporary design features white, modern subway tiles, warm woods and ample open spaces anchored by green plants and natural materials. An educational area in the lobby features three, semi-private viewing stalls with touch-screen computers displaying a library of relevant information at customers’ fingertips.
A well-curated retail area in the lobby showcases a variety of organic pet dental products including pet specific toothpaste and toothbrushes, vegan dental chews, dental wipes, coconut oil, pet breath fresheners and other natural pet products.
Once HealthySmiles determines that a pet's dental condition and behavior are suitable for the procedure, they gently swaddle the pet to ensure it feels safe. Then, a five-step process is used to safely deep clean their teeth without anesthesia. They begin the dental cleaning by removing the plaque and calculus on pet’s teeth. They further clean the bacteria under the gum line and finish by polishing, wiping, and rinsing the mouth. Pet parents even receive “before” and “after” photos to document their pet's smile makeover.
Some of the signs a pet needs a dental cleaning include bad breath, swollen or bleeding gums, discolored teeth, excessive drooling, difficulty eating or drinking, difficulty swallowing and face rubbing or pawing of the mouth.
There are many advantages to non-anesthetic versus anesthetic dental. An anesthesia dental, which typically costs between $400 to $1,000 dollars, requires sedatives and general anesthesia where both IV and inhalation are used. Pre-anesthetic lab work is required to ensure the pet’s internal organs can support general anesthesia, and the lengthy procedure takes between four to eight hours, including recovery time.
Non-anesthetic pet dental care is less expensive, costing between $179 to $239 depending on the pet’s size, the procedure only takes 45 minutes, there is zero recovery time, no medications are used and prior lab tests are not required. Older and sick pets greatly benefit from non-anesthetic dental cleanings to avoid complications that may arise from the use of anesthesia. HealthySmiles also offers membership plans that enable pets to receive two dental cleanings per year for as low as $25-35 per month.
These non-anesthetic dentals also help reduce the risk of bacterial infections such as periodontal disease, which adversely affects a pet’s overall health, causing chronic pain, gum inflammation and, in severe cases, bone loss and organ failure. To avoid these health risks, it is recommended that pets have a deep dental cleaning every six months.
Anesthesia-free dental cleanings are best suited for routine dental care, while severe periodontal disease, complicated fractures, and teeth extractions require the use of sedation and anesthesia to avoid severe pain.
Dogs have 42 adult teeth, 4 blunt canines, 12 incisors, 16 premolars and 10 molars. Their teeth need regular deep cleanings to help prevent the progression of plaque and avoid severe periodontitis. The primary bacteria in dogs’ mouths is Capnocytophaga canimorsus which builds up and bothers dogs when left untreated.
For cats, regular dental care helps to keep their teeth shiny and their breath fresh, plus it helps prevent dental infections, which can progress from mild to severe in a matter of months. Cats’ mouths have many different kinds of bacteria, giving them a higher risk of periodontal disease than dogs. However, because cat’s 30 adult teeth are significantly smaller than dog teeth, their dental cleanings take less time.
“HealthySmiles began as a partnership with other pet providers such as groomers, daycares and vets where we serviced their clients on an ongoing basis,” explains Tarek El Gammal, CEO of HealthySmiles Pet Dental. “However, we noticed significant organic demand for our service, which led us to go direct to consumer. We started doing house calls over the summer before deciding to build brick and mortar locations in an effort to continue focusing on fully controlling the pet parent and pet experience. Our Plantation office will be the first among many new HealthySmiles Pet Dental locations throughout Florida and nationwide.”