Why does my dog need anesthesia for teeth cleaning?
Dogs need anesthesia for teeth cleanings because we have to have them completely relaxed and fully cooperative. We have to be able to reach every surface of their teeth when we're scaling and polishing. We also take dental x-rays, which involve inserting a sensor into their mouth. We have to have those x-rays because we need to see what's going on below the gum line.
How is anesthesia administered to my dog and who monitors them after it's been given?
Anesthesia is administered in different ways, with multiple routes and steps along the process. We start with an injection of a sedative, which gets them ready for us to place an IV catheter and then give them induction anesthesia through the IV. The next thing we do is place an endotracheal tube so we can administer the gas anesthesia, which keeps them under anesthesia. The whole time they're under and getting all these medications, our dedicated technicians, our surgery techs, are monitoring them.
I've heard some vets offer anesthesia-free dentals. Is this true?
It's very true, and it's something that we don't practice. The reason is that it's not very thorough. They can't address any disease that might be going on below the gum line, and we can't access every surface of the tooth to do a thorough cleaning.
Why are antibiotics and pain medication sometimes prescribed for dog dental procedures?
In a lot of cases, we generally will find advanced periodontal disease. Even though the doctor might see just basic dental tartar or calculus during the exam, when we actually have the pet anesthetized, we can find evidence of infection below the gum line. Antibiotics are often prescribed to help with that. Pain medication is generally prescribed because infections can be painful, and there's also a high chance that a lot of times we're doing some oral surgery during the procedure.
How do I know if my dog will have a reaction to anesthesia?
There's no way to absolutely know if an animal will have a reaction to anesthesia. However, we do some good diagnostic testing prior to anesthesia to try to eliminate the possibilities of a reaction or complication. We take general blood work, and we do ECGs and things like that, but we also do very close monitoring while they're under so that we can detect if there is a reaction.
Is my dog too old for dental cleanings?
I don't know that your dog is too old for a dental cleaning. Age is not necessarily a disease. We do dental cleanings in pets of all ages. It just sort of depends on how healthy they are overall, what their pre-operative lab work, heart sounds, and overall health are. I would definitely have your pet evaluated by a veterinarian to see if they're a good candidate for a dental cleaning.
What is the vet looking for during a dog dental exam?
We're actually looking to see what grade we think the dental disease might be. It can be anything from a zero to a four, and that has to do with how heavy the tartar and calculus build-up is on the teeth, but also the state of the gums. If the gums are inflamed, if they're receding, if we can see any tooth roots or things like that. Basically, we're looking for evidence of infection, which is periodontal disease.
What does a healthy dog mouth look like?
Healthy teeth are generally white and clean, without a heavy layer of yellow or brown tartar or calculus. The gums are pink, not red or inflamed, and they actually line up right along the edge of the crown.
What kind of dental and oral problems can dogs have?
We just mentioned gingivitis, which is the inflammation of the gums. That's the first thing that a lot of people will see, that the gums are inflamed. More advanced disease is what we call periodontal disease, which is where plaque and tartar laden with bacteria are sitting on the teeth, and they're actually causing infection along the gum and then the root of the tooth. We can see gingival hyperplasia, which is overgrowth of the gums. And then we can also see things like masses or tumors on the gums.
Why does my dog need x-rays?
The dental x-rays are in place because we can't see what's below the gum line without them. We have to see the tooth roots with the x-ray, and the only way to see if the tooth root is healthy and whether there's any evidence of infection is to take those dental x-rays whenever the pet is fully anesthetized during the cleaning.
Are issues addressed during my dog's initial oral exam, or do I need to schedule a follow-up appointment?
It kind of depends on what the doctor thinks the grade of the dental disease is. If there's an active pocket of infection or an abscess that we can see, definitely we would start medications right away to treat that. Otherwise, in a lot of cases, actually probably most cases, we'll schedule a dental cleaning later and address all those problems at the time of the dental cleaning.
Why would my dog need extractions?
Extractions are recommended, and necessary, if we actually have a pocket of infection around a tooth root. Basically, if we have stage three and four periodontal disease, that means that the tooth root ligament has already become infected, and that tooth has to be removed. So, basically, advanced periodontal disease.
Dog Dental Care at Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital
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