Your pet may need more than a routine cleaning.
Dental pain, infection, broken teeth, and advanced gum disease are common in dogs and cats — and they often need more than a general practice can take on in-house. Dr. Brian Dening brings advanced dental and oral care to a veterinary hospital close to home, and you can ask for him.
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Your pet doesn't have to live with dental pain.
Most veterinarians provide routine dental cleanings — but advanced procedures like root canals, oral surgery, and gum-disease treatment call for a different level of care. Until recently, getting that care in New Hampshire often meant a long drive to a regional referral center and a longer wait.
Dr. Dening changed that. He brings advanced dental and oral care directly to veterinary hospitals across Southern New Hampshire — so your pet gets the treatment it needs at a hospital close to home, in a place it already knows.
Signs your pet may need advanced dental care.
If your pet is showing any of these signs, ask your veterinarian about advanced dental care — or request a consultation above to understand your options and find a hospital near you.
Care that goes beyond a routine cleaning.
Saving Damaged Teeth
When a tooth is broken, cracked, or infected, the first instinct is often extraction — but that's not always the best outcome. Root canal therapy can save a tooth your pet still needs, relieve the pain immediately, and preserve function for years. For dogs who use their teeth to carry, retrieve, or work, keeping a healthy tooth matters — and for any pet, avoiding an unnecessary extraction is worth exploring.
Who Benefits MostDogs with fractured canine teeth or carnassials; pets with discolored teeth (often a sign of internal damage); any animal where the owner wants to preserve the tooth if possible.
Treating Gum Disease
Most pet owners don't realize how common — or how serious — advanced gum disease is in dogs and cats. By age three, the majority of pets have some degree of periodontal disease. Routine cleanings manage early-stage disease, but once it progresses, advanced treatment is the way to address it properly. Left untreated, advanced gum disease causes chronic pain, tooth loss, and can affect your pet's heart, kidneys, and overall health.
Signs to Watch ForPersistent bad breath even after cleanings; bleeding or swollen gums; loose teeth; visible tartar buildup at the gumline.
Oral Surgery
Some procedures simply require oral surgery. Difficult extractions, jaw injuries, structural defects, and complex cases a general practice isn't equipped to handle call for advanced surgical care. Dr. Dening performs the full range of oral surgical procedures — from surgical extraction of impacted teeth to jaw fracture repair — at veterinary hospitals close to where you live.
Common CasesImpacted or broken teeth requiring surgical extraction; jaw injuries from trauma; oronasal fistulas; chronic oral disease in cats requiring comprehensive treatment.
Repairing Tooth Damage
Teeth that have worn off the enamel and have exposed dentin are painful and can eventually fail. A bonded sealant can help relieve pain and protect the tooth. A broken tooth with exposed pulp will abscess. The question is not if, it is when. Treatment is always recommended to eliminate pain and potentially preserve the tooth.
Early Bite Correction in Young Pets
Puppies and kittens sometimes develop bite problems during the transition from baby teeth to adult teeth. In many cases, early intervention — as simple as removing a persistent baby tooth — can guide the adult teeth into proper alignment. Left unaddressed, bite problems become permanent, painful, and far more difficult to manage. If your vet has mentioned a bite concern in your young pet, it's worth a conversation about advanced care sooner rather than later.
Oral Growths & Masses
Any unusual lump, bump, or tissue change in your pet's mouth should be evaluated promptly. Oral masses in pets can range from benign epulides to aggressive tumors — and the difference in treatment and outcome is significant. Early advanced assessment means earlier diagnosis, more options, and better outcomes.
What to Watch ForAny new lump or growth in or around the mouth; a wound in the mouth that isn't healing; swelling of the jaw or face; difficulty opening or closing the mouth.
Does pet insurance cover advanced dental care?
Many pet insurance plans cover advanced procedures, including dental surgery, when they're medically necessary — though coverage varies significantly by plan and provider. We recommend contacting your insurer before the appointment to understand what's covered and what documentation they require. Dr. Dening can provide procedure codes and clinical notes to support a claim.
RecoveryWhat is recovery like?
Recovery depends on the procedure performed. Most pets are discharged the same day. Soft food for one to two weeks is standard after extractions or oral surgery, and pain management is prescribed and typically well tolerated. Most pets are visibly more comfortable within 24–48 hours of a procedure that had been causing ongoing pain — often more active and more interested in food than they'd been in months.
Dr. Dening provides detailed discharge instructions for every case and is available for follow-up questions after the procedure.
Three simple steps.
- 01 Talk to your vet. Ask whether they work with Dr. Dening — or whether they'd bring him in. Many practices don't yet know a mobile option is available in NH. You may be the one who introduces them.
- 02 Or request a consultation directly. Use the consultation form at the top of this page. Dr. Dening can tell you which hospitals he serves, where he's scheduling next, and how to connect you with a practice near you.
- 03 Your pet gets advanced care. The procedure happens at a veterinary hospital — familiar, trusted, close to home. Dr. Dening does the advanced work; your regular vet stays involved.
Dental disease moves fast — and pets hide pain well.
The sooner it's addressed, the better the outcome. Reach Dr. Dening directly to find out where he's available and how to get your pet seen.