Pets ‘smile’ for dentist’s mall visit

NEWPORT BEACH — Rhonda Forst has difficulty sometimes getting her dental patients to behave.

Some of them, particularly the smaller ones, squirm and refuse to sit still. In a few cases, Forst even needs an assistant to get them to open their mouths.

Still, it beats working with humans.

Forst, the owner of Gentle Dental, makes a living cleaning the teeth of cats and dogs. She worked as a dental assistant with people for more than 25 years, but branched into pet care a dozen years ago.

By the time she made her monthly visit to the Muttropolis store at Fashion Island Saturday, she had long since made up her mind to stick with animals.

“They always want to tell me their problems because they’re laying back in their chairs like a shrink,” Forst said, recalling her job in a regular dentist’s office. “Cats and dogs are always happy to see me. I get a lot of kisses and a lot of love.”

Muttropolis, a boutique that offers clothes, chew toys and more for cats and dogs, hosts a Gentle Dental clinic once a month, charging $95 per pet. Forst provides light, anesthesia-free cleaning for pets whose teeth aren’t decayed enough to warrant a trip to the veterinarian. On Saturday, she had a full day’s work, as owners registered 10 dogs and two cats for treatment.

In a backroom at Muttropolis, Forst cradled the animals on her lap and cleaned their teeth with a brush and polishing paste.

Each appointment lasted half an hour. The store also sold toothbrushes and mouthwash by the counter for owners to use between visits.

Cathi Sasser of Yorba Linda, a regular client of Forst, brought two of her four miniature pinchers in on Saturday. She alternated the pets two at a time, she said, with her boys, Scooby and Maverick, due for the latest checkup.

When Scooby came out of the dentist’s office, Sasser picked him up and flashed his white teeth to the crowd nearby.

“There!” she said, holding his lips open with her fingers. “Show them how pretty you are.”