Taking Care Of My Animals

Posted on: 16 October 2018

Just like you, your dog needs regular dental care, including annual professional dog dental cleanings. You may have seen groomers or pet stores offering anesthesia-free dental cleanings for dogs; however, many veterinarians recommend dental cleanings under anesthesia. Which is right for your dog?

You may be tempted to choose the anesthesia-free cleanings. It sounds less expensive, and you may be worried about the risks or side effects of anesthesia. But there are some very good reasons why dental cleanings under anesthesia are a better choice for dogs.

Cleanings Under Anesthesia Are More Thorough

If you've ever needed a root canal or had a tooth infection that occurred underneath the gumline, you're probably well aware that there's more to teeth than what you can see above the gums. The same is true for your dog—a significant portion of each tooth isn't visible above the gumline. Cleaning below the gumline can help prevent one of the most common diseases dogs get—periodontal disease.

However, cleaning below the gumline can't be done without putting your dog under anesthesia. Anesthesia-free cleanings are almost entirely cosmetic; they don't include cleaning below the gumline or on the tongue side of the teeth. The parts of your dog's teeth that you can easily see may look nice and clean after an anesthesia-free cleaning, but there's no guarantee that there won't be infections or cavities in places that you can't see. Your vet can do a much more thorough cleaning when your dog is under anesthesia.

Cleanings Under Anesthesia Are Kinder

In order for your dog to have their teeth cleaned without anesthesia, they will need to be restrained so they can't bite the person cleaning their teeth. This can cause your dog needless discomfort and stress.

You know what it's like to sit in the dentist's chair with your mouth wide open while the dentist does their work. No one enjoys this, but at least your dentist can explain what they're doing and why while they work, and you understand why you need to sit still. But imagine that you didn't know why your dentist was doing what they were doing, didn't know what would come next, and couldn't understand anything that the dentist was saying to you. Plus, imagine that you were being held down while all of this was going on. That sounds pretty upsetting! That's what your dog will experience during an anesthesia-free cleaning. Opting for anesthesia during dental cleanings is a kinder way to ensure that your dog gets the dental care that they need.

Cleanings Under Anesthesia Save Money

Dental care is expensive, and that's as true for animals as it is for humans. It's understandable that you might be looking for ways to ensure that your pet gets the dental care it needs for a lower price, and anesthesia may sound like an unnecessary extra cost.

However, anesthesia-free dental cleanings not only fail to clean under the gumline and all surfaces of the teeth, but they also don't include basic preventative procedures like dental X-rays and polishing to remove divots where plaque can build up. These procedures can alert you to dental problems while they're still small and manageable and can prevent some dental issues entirely. Without them, your dog could develop serious dental problems before you become aware of them, which could lead to much more expensive dental procedures. Opting for anesthesia so your vet can do a complete cleaning and examination will save you money in the long run.

Good dental health is closely connected to good overall health. Your dog deserves good dental care in order to preserve their overall health, and dental care under anesthesia is usually the best choice. Talk to your veterinarian about the best strategy for meeting your dog's dental health needs.