If you have looked into having your dog or catโs teeth cleaned ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฆท, youโve probably stumbled upon anesthesia-free pet dental cleanings. This simply means that your pet will not go under general anesthesia in order to have their teeth cleaned. At first glance, it seems less risky ๐ and less expensive ๐ฒโso why not?
Anesthesia-free dentals are generally performed by non-veterinarians who attempt to scale plaque off of a petโs teeth using sharp instruments โ ๏ธ. This is neither safe nor effective โ, yet many businesses proudly offer this service as part of a grooming regimen โ๏ธ๐. We encourage you to think of it this way: you wouldnโt go to a salon for your own oral hygiene needs ๐ฌ, and neither should your pets ๐พ.
๐ฆท What Happens During an Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning (AFD) or Non-Anesthetic Dental (NAD)?
๐ Restraint
Because your pet is not under general anesthesia, they must be physically restrained for a lengthy amount of time ๐. Since your pet does not understand what is happening, this can be a traumatic experience ๐. Even beyond the cleaning, it can lead to increased anxiety during at-home dental care ๐ชฅ๐พ.
Even with restraint, pets may move their head suddenly. The person performing the scaling is using extremely sharp tools ๐ก๏ธ, which can unintentionally cause injury to the gums or other oral tissues ๐จ.
๐ Pain
Your pet may experience pain and discomfort while years of plaque buildup are scraped from their teeth. If a tooth is loose or diseased ๐ฆทโ ๏ธ, cleaning it without anesthesia can be especially painful.
โจ Inefficacy
While teeth may appear white and shiny ๐, this creates a false sense of oral health. The results are purely cosmetic ๐ญ, and your pet may benefit very little.
Without anesthesia, there is no way to clean beneath the gumline or on the inner surfaces of the teeth ๐ซ๐ชฅ. Periodontal disease can remain hidden and may lead to serious overall health problems โค๏ธโ๐ฉน.
๐ฉบ Why Anesthetic Pet Dental Cleanings Are Important
One common concern is that anesthesia is dangerousโbut when properly administered, it is extremely safe โ . A pre-anesthetic exam and bloodwork ๐งช help your veterinarian choose the safest protocol for your pet.
During professional dental procedures, a veterinarian and highly trained technicians monitor your pet at all times ๐ฉโโ๏ธ๐จโโ๏ธ. An IV catheter is placed ๐, and intravenous fluids are given to maintain hydration and healthy blood pressure ๐ง.
Each tooth is carefully examined and probed ๐ฆท๐ to check for disease. Full-mouth dental X-rays ๐ธ allow us to evaluate the roots and surrounding bone. Many serious issues are discovered during these procedures that would never be found during an awake exam.
Unfortunately, itโs not uncommon for pets to visit a veterinarian after an anesthesia-free dental with unresolved problems ๐. Dental X-rays often reveal bone loss ๐ฆด, fractured teeth, abscesses, or even oral tumors ๐จ.
๐ฅ What Happens During a Professional Dental Cleaning?
โข Patient is admitted after an overnight fast โฐ
โข Doctor performs a full exam to ensure safety ๐ฉบ
โข Sedative and pain medication are administered ๐
โข IV catheter is placed ๐
โข Pet is intubated and placed under general anesthesia ๐ด
โข Continuous monitoring of blood pressure, temperature, respiration, oxygen levels, EKG, and heart rate ๐
โข Dental X-rays are taken and teeth are thoroughly cleaned while your pet is closely monitored ๐ฆท๐ธ
The veterinarian oversees the entire procedure, evaluates X-rays, performs any needed oral surgery ๐ชฅโ๏ธ, administers medications, and communicates with you directly ๐.
Afterward, your pet recovers comfortably in a monitored recovery area ๐๏ธ๐ and is discharged later that day with detailed at-home care instructions ๐๐พ.
โญ Standards of Care
Our mission is to provide the highest standards in veterinary medicine ๐. The American Animal Hospital Association, American Veterinary Dental College, and American Veterinary Medical Association all agree: no pet should receive an anesthesia-free dental cleaning โ๐ฆท.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns about pet dental care, please donโt hesitate to contact us ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐
