Frequently Asked Questions about Dentals

Why must my pet undergo anesthesia for a dental cleaning? Can't the groomer just scrape the tartar off of his teeth?

Tartar is made of bacteria and when it is removed from the surface of the teeth we worry that small pieces could be inhaled by the patient causing a lung infection. For this reason, "Anesthesia Free" cleaning is NEVER recommended. Anesthesia allows us to place an endotracheal tube in the windpipe to prevent infection of the lungs. Additionally, the most important part of the cleaning is the removal of plaque and tartar under the gum line. This is just not possible in an awake pet. With anesthesia-free cleanings, the teeth are also not polished, which will leave the cleaned surface rough and actually increase the adherence of plaque to the teeth.

I'm worried about my elderly dog undergoing anesthesia for a dental procedure. Is it possible for a dog to be "too old" to benefit from professional dental care?

Some people tell us about pets that have had problems or died under anesthesia. Fifteen or twenty years ago, many of these concerns would be valid reasons for not proceeding with an elective procedure in an older pet. Fortunately, anesthesia has become much safer for older pets in recent years.

-First, pre-anesthetic testing helps us to recognize those pets that are having internal problems that aren't yet recognizable by their owners at home. If a problem is found on their labwork, we can try to resolve it before allowing the pet to undergo anesthesia.

-Second, modern inhalant gas is a much safer way to maintain anesthesia than using only injectable agents. The gas can be adjusted depending on your pet's individual response to anesthesia and is exhaled completely from their system within about five minutes should they respond poorly. The endotracheal tube placed to administer gas anesthesia also protects against contamination of the lungs by oral or stomach matter.

-Third, monitoring has changed from merely watching to see if the dog is breathing to tracking pulse rate and quality, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, respiratory rate, temperature, and electrical rhythm of the heart. When pets are being monitored appropriately it allows veterinarians and technicians to detect abnormalities quickly and initiate therapy to avoid anesthetic problems. A technician is assigned specifically to monitor your pet the entire time they're under anesthesia.

-Fourth, all pets undergoing dental care now receive fluid therapy by intravenous catheter during anesthesia to maintain vascular volume and blood pressure. This protects sensitive brain and kidney cells. We also use heat support to prevent hypothermia during anesthesia, which can change the rate at which drugs are processed and slow recovery.

Our doctors really believe that age is not a disease and mature pets that are otherwise healthy are able to tolerate anesthesia well. A pet that is older is more likely to have more severe periodontal disease and thus more pain. These animals still need care in order to maintain the quality of their lives. Taking care of their gums and teeth is also one of the best ways to extend their lifespan.

Why is cleaning my pet's teeth more expensive than cleaning my teeth? Why is it more expensive than the last time his teeth were cleaned a few years ago?

The cost of dental care for pets has certainly increased as the quality of anesthesia, cleaning, and services have increased. The primary reason your pet's dental cleaning is more expensive is anesthesia. Pets don't just say "ahh" the way we do, so specialized equipment, medications, and personnel are required for your pet's dental procedure. Additionally, we strive to provide the best care, which means that every dental patient receives full mouth x-rays to allow our doctors to detect problems not visible on exam. Finally, odds are that your pet's teeth are a lot dirtier than yours! While we as humans get our teeth cleaned every 6 months and brush twice daily in between, our pets are usually only receiving a cleaning every few years and most often receiving little home dental care to maintain their teeth. This means their cleaning is much more involved and takes more time than a standard human dental cleaning.

The doctor has recommended extraction of some of my pet's teeth but will he still be able to eat without these teeth?

Yes. Broken, infected, and diseased teeth are extremely painful, though you may not notice your pet struggling as they have evolved for survival regardless. Having no tooth is more comfortable for your pet to eat with than having a painful diseased tooth. Many of our older patients have very few remaining teeth (or even none!) and continue to eat kibble without issue. If you're concerned, kibble can always be softened with warm water or your pet can be switched to canned food.

I can't tell that my pet is in any pain even though he has broken teeth and red, inflamed gums. Wouldn't he stop eating if he was in any pain?

Some pets will stop eating all together when their teeth, bone, and gums hurt badly enough. The vast majority, however, will find some tactic to keep eating. They may chew on the other side of their mouths or swallow their kibble whole. Pets have an extremely strong instinct to survive no matter what discomfort they feel. Sometimes the symptoms of periodontal disease are so vague that we don't notice them. Pets may be reluctant to hold their toys in their mouths, be less playful, resent having their teeth brushed, have a hard time sleeping, or have no outward symptoms at all. Often, after we have treated broken teeth or extracted infected teeth, our patients' owners tell us that they act more energetic and playful than they have in years!!

How often should a routine dental cleaning be performed?

Every patient is different, so there is no one right answer. Usually, smaller dogs should have their teeth cleaned earlier and more frequently because their teeth are more crowded in their mouths, creating more crevices for bacteria to hide. Bigger dogs may not develop tartar as quickly but their mouths should be monitored closely for any broken teeth as they are typically harder on their teeth. Cats are all individuals and should be examine closely for any excessive gingivitis which may be an indication of some cat-specific diseases like resorptive lesions or stomatitis.

How can periodontal disease hurt my pet?

The possible localized effects of periodontal disease are pain, infection of the gums, bone, and/or teeth, and loss of teeth. Chronic infection of the periodontal tissues allows bacteria to enter the circulatory system resulting in seeding of the internal organs (heart, kidneys, liver) and may lead to serious infections in these organs as well.