Do dogs need to be sedated for dental cleaning?

One of the main reasons your pets require general anesthesia for dentistry is safety. A very small percentage of dogs actually have their teeth brushed every day and due to the fact that they chew on various objects (sticks, toys or rocks), they often require a more in-depth procedure. This can be a long, painful procedure and unfortunately, our communication with pets does not include “Say ahhhhhh and try not to move for the next hour or more.” Therefore, a general anesthetic is the safest, shortest way to accomplish the best results for your pet. We often get asked why we can’t sedate your pet for it’s dental. Although sedation in the right circumstance is completely safe, sedated and or restraining your pet for a moderate to severe dental procedure could cause aspiration or a compromised airway because of the positioning needed to do our work. The most humane and safest way for our pets to have a thorough evaluation of the mouth through probing, x-rays, dental scaling above and below the gum line, extractions or reparative dental work is to have a general anesthetic.

Your dog will most likely need sedation or a general anaesthetic to properly examine their mouth. If the affected teeth aren't too bad, they would be scaled and polished to remove mineral deposits. With more severe cases, such as fractured or loose teeth, they may need to be removed. Dental disease treatment should only be carried out under the direction of your vet. X-rays might also be taken to reveal any abnormalities of the tooth or bone. Your dog will likely need anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics after surgery.