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The Reality of Anesthesia-Free Pet Dentistry
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Despite the popularity of the so-called anesthesia-free dentistry, few pet owners come to the realization that it is a cosmetic practice and of little benefit to the pet's dental health. It gives the pet owner a false sense of providing a dental cleaning when in reality it was simply a teeth polishing.
During the process of anesthesia free pet dentistry tartar is removed only from the visible part of your pet's teeth. The teeth are brushed, then rinsed, and sometimes a visual examination of the mouth is done and the teeth polished as tolerated by the pet. After this, the mouth looks smells a lot better for awhile. This service is usually offered in grooming shops and pet stores either by the staff and sometimes by individuals who visit the shop on a contractual basis.
As the pet is not under anesthesia, a complete examination which includes scraping the teeth of tartar and visual inspection of the entire mouth is impossible. This results in any oral disease to go unnoticed and allows for regrowth of bacteria on the teeth along with bacteria buildup under the gum line. Most periodontal gum disease occurs below the tooth into the gums and diagnosis is almost impossible without the pet being under anesthesia.
The person who performs the anesthesia free dentistry might advertise being a pet dental hygienist or pet dental technician. In reality, there are no recognized licensing, training or certification programs to substantiate that claim and are marketing slogans. Most states require that dental operations be performed under or by the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
If you are really concerned about protecting your pets against dental disease it is important to brush your pet's teeth every single day and stop feeding starch-containing foods (kibble or dry food). There is no proof that dry pet food (kibble) cleans the teeth and in fact can promote tartar as it sticks to the teeth longer than wet food.
The primary market for anesthesia-free pet dental cleanings is those pet owners who are drawn to what is perceived to be a safer (and much cheaper) way to get dental care for their pet. Many pet owners find it confusing when they discover that it is impossible to properly examine and clean a pet's teeth without anesthesia. Humans don't usually require anesthesia for teeth cleaning so why is it required for pets?
Anesthesia protocols for dentistry or other procedures should be individualized according to your pet's health evaluation. Discuss with your veterinarian about pain control and treatment after the dental procedure. There have been significant advances in veterinary medicine to minimize the stress of surgery and anesthesia and improve the recovery process including dental procedures.
Pet owners need to be aware that dental care involves more than just having anesthesia-free cosmetic dental treatments and the necessity of the pet being under anesthesia to provide proper dental care.
American Veterinary Dental College Position Statement on
Companion Animal Dental Scaling Without Anesthesia
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