Dental Cleaning 101
February is National Pet Dental Health Month! We talked with Dr. Kate Sapato about some of the most commonly asked questions regarding comprehensive oral treatments. You can also check out our Day in the Life of a COT Patient video to get a behind the scenes look at what our dental cleaning patients experience!
What's the difference between an anesthesia-free dental cleaning and Comprehensive Oral Treatment performed under anesthesia?
Anesthesia free dental cleanings are typically done while your pet is awake, but firmly restrained, and visible calculus (mineralized plaque and bacteria) is scaled or cracked off while your pet’s mouth is held open. This type of procedure induces a lot of anxiety in our pets and doesn’t allow for a complete oral exam, which severely limits the ability to find and eliminate sources of pain in a pet’s mouth. The American Veterinary Dental College actually advises against this type of procedure due to the risk of causing harm to the tissues in the mouth if a patient moves and risk of staff members being bitten or injured during the procedure. We also know that the majority of periodontal disease exists below the gumline and it is impossible to address while a pet is awake. Essentially, anesthesia-free dental cleanings result in visibly clean teeth while leaving behind painful periodontal disease, at the expense of a scared pet.
A Comprehensive Oral Treatment involves much more than simply cleaning the teeth. Our patients are placed under anesthesia for a full oral assessment. All of the calculus is scaled off and the teeth are polished, then full mouth x-rays are taken to look at the tooth root structures below the gum line. Each tooth is then carefully probed for pockets of infection and bone loss and everything is documented in your pet’s medical record for future reference and monitoring. X-rays and probing are crucial to identifying teeth that are infected, painful or diseased that we aren’t able to visualize on a physical exam. Our pets are very good at hiding discomfort and pain from us, so these assessments and treatments are a very important part of ensuring your pet is in overall good health.
How is a comprehensive oral treatment different from the dental cleaning my groomer does?
As discussed above, a Comprehensive Oral Treatment involves not only a deeper cleaning of the teeth, but the ability to find and treat diseased teeth. In addition, professionally scaling the teeth is the only way to remove calculus. Studies show that plaque turns into calculus within 2 days, so the occasional tooth brushing at the groomer is not very effective at preventing this transformation. We like to think of this similarly to how we brush our teeth daily, but have a deeper cleaning at our dentist every six months or so.
Why does my pet go under anesthesia for their Comprehensive Oral Treatment? Is anesthesia safe for my pet?
Anesthesia allows a full oral examination including x-rays, probing, and any oral surgery that may be needed based on the results. For every patient, we thoroughly listen to their heart rate and rhythm prior to anesthesia and listen to their lung sounds to ensure we don’t hear any abnormalities that may put a patient at higher risk from a cardiovascular standpoint. We also check lab work within 8 weeks of any anesthetized procedure to ensure a patient’s kidneys and liver are able to metabolize our drugs efficiently and that there are no other signs of disease that we can pick up on prior to anesthesia. On the day of the procedure, we listen to our patients and have many forms of monitoring equipment on each patient during a procedure. This includes monitoring heart rate, heart rhythm, breathing rate, oxygen saturation (how well oxygen is getting to a patient’s tissues), and blood pressure. We know that paying attention to the trends in these values is vital to picking up on any dangerous changes early and with time to intervene. In addition, we use medications that are quickly metabolized or reversible as much as possible to limit potential complications. If you have any concerns about anesthesia, please bring it up with your veterinarian; we’re more than happy to talk through it!
What happens when I drop my pet off for their comprehensive oral treatment?
When you arrive in the morning, a technician will intake your pet and go over the plan for the day and any necessary paperwork. A veterinarian will then do a thorough physical exam and review your pet’s lab work. Each patient typically receives a pre-medication which helps them relax while in the hospital and reduces the amount of anesthetic drugs needed during the procedure, which helps minimize complications. A catheter is placed in every patient to ensure we have venous access and can administer fluids throughout the procedure to keep your pet hydrated and their kidneys happy. They are then placed under anesthesia when it is their turn and the procedure is performed. During the procedure, a technician is always with each patient, keeping track of their vitals, managing anesthesia and helping them through the recovery process. Each pet stays in our treatment area where they are under close supervision of our technicians and doctors throughout the day. Pets are typically kept in hospital a few hours after the procedure to make sure recovery is going smoothly and then are discharged with a written set of instructions to ensure things go well at home.
How many BLVD team members are with my pet while they are under anesthesia and during the recovery process?
Every surgery patient has a team of three dedicated to them throughout the day: one doctor and two technicians. One technician is in charge of anesthesia monitoring as well.
What can I do at home to keep my pet's teeth healthy and pain-free after their Comprehensive Oral Treatment?
Once a pet’s calculus has been scaled off and their teeth have been polished, oral home care is of the utmost importance. Brushing teeth is the most effective way to prevent plaque build up which can turn into calculus and should be done everyday or every other day for best results. Enzymatic species-specific toothpaste can be helpful in reducing plaque build up, but also during the training process as it is often flavored and tastes good to our pets. If your pet tolerates brushing, but can’t stand the toothpaste, it is okay to continue brushing without. The mechanical action of brushing is more important than the enzymatic action of the toothpaste, though both are beneficial. Dental chews and treats are great options to add in with brushing, but do not replace it in terms of effectiveness. Make sure to look for the VOHC seal of approval on dental products. Essentially, they are the board of dentists for pets and will only put their seal of approval on products that have been proven to be safe and effective. Water additives are helpful for freshening breath, but don’t provide much in the way of reducing plaque build up. A full list of approved products can be found on their website.
We hope you found these tips useful and that they help keep you and your pets happy and healthy. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always here for you and your pets!