Do You Get Your Dogs' Teeth Cleaned?
Baby Girl, my Catahoula mix, went for her yearly check up and shots and I was told that February is Dental Hygiene month and the clinic is offering a special on teeth cleaning. I'm wondering if this ...
Forum Discussion
Doxiemom and CAPOPPY both give excellent advice on dental cleaning.
There is a difference between individuals and breeds regarding the need and frequency for dental cleaning. Some individuals need it way more frequently (like a couple of times a year for the worst) than others that may only need the cleaning a couple of times in their lives.
The other issue comes with costs. While an important part of general health, if there is a fixed limit on money available for care many will choose to spend that money on other important issues (like heartworm medication).
Another note on cleaning: What your vet does is (or should be) more than just scraping the tartar (calculus) off the teeth. While this should be done on all surfaces of the teeth (lingual or tongue side too) there should be a polishing after the scaling that reduces the micro grooves created by the scraping. The teeth should be cleaned under the gum line as well. Pockets should be measured, evaluated and treated as well as a thorough examination of the oral cavity. Often your vet may recommend XRays of questionable teeth, you just can't always tell from visual exam.
This thorough exam and treatment is why anesthesia should be a part, as long as the pet is medically able to undergo anesthesia. You just can't do everything necessary to an awake animal.
That being said, there are patients I've done abbreviated procedures with little or no sedation due to medical condition and others that have benefited from procedures done when awake, but if you trust your vet and communicate well with her/him, you should arrive at a pretty good consensus as to the need for a dental.
Doug, DVM
There is a difference between individuals and breeds regarding the need and frequency for dental cleaning. Some individuals need it way more frequently (like a couple of times a year for the worst) than others that may only need the cleaning a couple of times in their lives.
The other issue comes with costs. While an important part of general health, if there is a fixed limit on money available for care many will choose to spend that money on other important issues (like heartworm medication).
Another note on cleaning: What your vet does is (or should be) more than just scraping the tartar (calculus) off the teeth. While this should be done on all surfaces of the teeth (lingual or tongue side too) there should be a polishing after the scaling that reduces the micro grooves created by the scraping. The teeth should be cleaned under the gum line as well. Pockets should be measured, evaluated and treated as well as a thorough examination of the oral cavity. Often your vet may recommend XRays of questionable teeth, you just can't always tell from visual exam.
This thorough exam and treatment is why anesthesia should be a part, as long as the pet is medically able to undergo anesthesia. You just can't do everything necessary to an awake animal.
That being said, there are patients I've done abbreviated procedures with little or no sedation due to medical condition and others that have benefited from procedures done when awake, but if you trust your vet and communicate well with her/him, you should arrive at a pretty good consensus as to the need for a dental.
Doug, DVM
