Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery by BluePearl Lakewood WA

BluePearl Pet Hospital
Tacoma
Lakewood, WA
Dentistry & Oral Surgery

24/7 Emergency and Specialty
Emergency:
24/7
Specialty:
By appointment
Please call ahead before visiting
Request Appointment

Pet dentistry and oral surgery by BluePearl.

A BluePearl veterinary dentist smiles with her arm around a happy dog on an exam table.

Conditions treated

Learn which conditions our specialty team can help diagnose and treat, so your pet gets the right care for their needs.

A BluePearl veterinary dentist in a white coat crouches to examine a dog's mouth while a vet tech helps to hold them still.

Success stories

Discover how other pets have overcome their diagnoses with specialized care, giving you hope for your pet’s recovery.

A veterinarian meets with a client and her medium sized white and grey dog in a comfortable, welcoming exam room.

Request appointment

Take the next step toward answers and treatment by scheduling a specialty consultation for your pet.

Advanced veterinary expertise you can trust.

We understand that seeing your pet experience unusual symptoms or act out of the ordinary can be stressful – especially if you don’t know what’s wrong. Fortunately, our veterinary dentistry and oral surgery team is made up of experts in diagnosing and treating diseases of the teeth, gums and mouth, and we’re here to help. 

Our commitment is not just to treat illnesses; it’s to enhance the well-being of your pet and be with you every step of the way.

Veterinarian and vet tech examine a dog's teeth

Conditions we treat.

A BluePearl anesthesiology and pain management vet prepares to fix an anesthetic facemask on a yellow lab while a vet tech helps hold the dog on the exam table.

If your pet has a dental condition, you’ll have an entire dentistry and oral surgery team helping to improve your pet’s quality of life so you can get back to what matters most – spending precious moments together.

  • Broken teeth
  • Fractured jaw
  • Periodontal disease
  • Malocclusion (bite misalignment)
  • Oral tumors
  • Mouth pain
  • Inflammation in the mouth
  • Tooth resorption (loss of tooth structure from within)
  • Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS)
  • Cleft palate

Services we offer.

Your pet will receive unparalleled medical care during their time at the hospital (and they’ll be spoiled with love and attention, too).

Advanced diagnostics

Your pet can’t tell us what’s wrong, so we use sophisticated diagnostics and imaging tools to uncover the source of the problem.

  • Cone beam CT (CBCT)
  • Radiography (x-rays)
  • Blood testing

Treatment plans

Just as no two patients are the same, neither are their treatment plans. Our dentistry and oral surgery team has experience with a range of advanced procedures and minimally invasive care options to get your pet on the path to wellness, including:

  • Oral surgery
  • Anesthesiologist collaboration
  • Root canal therapy
  • Maxillofacial surgery
  • Periodontal disease treatment

Our board certified specialists and surgery team.

Experience makes all the difference. 

Our dentistry and oral surgery team is made up of veterinarians, vet technicians and assistants, and support staff with rigorous training and experience in specialty medicine. The team works hand in hand to provide the comprehensive, compassionate care your pet needs and deserves. Because we’re a multidisciplinary hospital, the team can consult the expertise of other specialty departments, too.

Deborah Hodesson

DVM, DAVDC
Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™

Dentistry & Oral Surgery
On the job

Dr. Deborah Hodesson has worked in emergency medicine, owned her own small animal private practice, and worked as a mobile veterinarian. After years in the dental field, she still finds it gratifying to restore health to a diseased tooth or tissue. She also enjoys oral surgery, particularly mass removals and root canal therapy.

Education
  • Diplomate, American Veterinary Dental College
  • Residency, Dentistry & Oral Surgery, Dentistry for Animals, Aptos, CA
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis
  • Bachelor of Arts, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Off duty

Dr. Hodesson volunteers her veterinary skills with a number of organizations, assisting with a variety of species, including marine mammals. She likes swimming, hiking, backpacking, camping, kayaking, scuba diving and triathlons, and her all-time favorite team is the Seattle Seahawks. She and her husband have three adult boys and three pets: Chocolate lab Aniska, golden retriever K’Taira, and Himalayan cat Kai Lani Maka Leah.

Publications and articles

Amy Rossi

DVM, DAVDC
Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™

Dentistry & Oral Surgery
On the job

Dr. Amy Rossi loves the improved quality of life and pain relief that dental care brings to her patients. She finds cases of severe periodontal disease, jaw fractures, palatal surgery, orthodontics — and any case involving a cat – especially gratifying to treat. She also enjoys helping animals with challenging anesthetic issues.

Education
  • Diplomate, American Veterinary Dental College
  • Residency, Dentistry & Oral Surgery, Veterinary Dentistry & Oral Surgery of New Mexico, Algodones
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman
Off duty

In her spare time, Dr. Rossi enjoys drawing and running.

Publications and articles

Lindsey Schneider

DVM, DAVDC
Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™

Dentistry & Oral Surgery
On the job

Dr. Lindsey Schneider’s clinical interests include:

  • Advanced periodontal surgery to maintain or reestablish attachment following bone loss around teeth
  • Placing metal crowns (prosthodontics)
  • Vital pulp therapy
  • Guided tissue regeneration
  • Crown height reduction
  • Extractions
  • Oronasal fistulas
  • Retained baby teeth
  • Gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of gum tissue)
  • Feline and canine stomatitis

In addition to treating cats and dogs, Dr. Schneider also has a strong interest in zoological and wildlife medicine. During her residency, she had the opportunity to participate in several service trips to the Belize Zoo, where she performed dental procedures on jaguars, mountain lions, coatimundis and a variety of other Central American species.

Education
  • Diplomate, American Veterinary Dental College
  • Residency, Dentistry & Oral Surgery, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson, AZ
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
  • Bachelor of Science, Economics, University of Iowa, Iowa City
  • Bachelor of Arts, English, University of Iowa, Iowa City

What to expect.

We want you to be prepared for your pet’s visit to the dentist, so you have one less thing to worry about. Our entire BluePearl team will be with you every step of the way.

Before your visit

  • Make an initial appointment by calling us directly or via referral from your pet’s primary vet. 
  • We’ll request records from your primary or emergency vet before your first visit and collaborate with them to discuss your pet’s history and current condition.

During your visit

  • When possible, we’ll examine your pet with you by their side to make them more comfortable. If additional tests are needed for a diagnosis, we’ll discuss those options with you.
  • You’ll have plenty of time and opportunity to ask questions as we go over your pet’s diagnosis together.
  • Before you leave, you’ll receive a detailed treatment plan, discharge instructions and any recommended medications. We’ll schedule a recheck appointment and make sure you’re aware of any symptoms you should watch out for at home.

After your visit

  • Our team will continue to partner with your primary veterinarian as part of the ongoing management of your pet’s care.
  • You know your pet better than anyone, and you play a crucial role in their treatment plan. If you have any concerns about providing care at home (such as giving medication, maintaining a specific diet or monitoring your pet’s symptoms), let us know – we’re here for you.

Success stories.

"Kramer was seen by my primary vet and it was determined he had abscessed teeth that needed attention. Dr. Alterman, BluePearl’s board-certified dentist and oral surgeon, was recommend and after speaking to her, I knew this needed to be done to allow Kramer to continue to eat and maintain his current lifestyle. Between the relationships I had built with Dr. Disney and Dr. Campbell, I was able to have Kramer quickly brought in for surgery. I was so happy to know that true professionals were with Kramer every step of the way through this surgery." Read Kramer's story.
"Making a decision to have your pet undergo oral surgery no doubt is a difficult decision, BluePearl made the decision easy. Our initial contact with Jennifer was met with thorough answers in a caring, understanding, and professional manner. The consult with Jennifer and Dr. Edstrom only reassured us that our pet was in good hands. They treated us as if we were their only patient. We appreciated the friendly, competent, and straightforward consultation."