Why is General Anesthesia
Needed?
Put simply, having your pet under general anesthesia allows us to clean not
only the visible surface of the teeth, but also the tooth surface that sits
below the gumline. No dental cleaning is complete without addressing this
potentially bacteria-laden area. In fact, removing tartar just from the
visible surface of the teeth may make them look whiter, but it does not address
the root cause of periodontal disease and ensuing bone loss from the
bacteria that lodges below the gumline. But there are many other reasons
as well:
When your pet is under anesthesia, he or she is unaware of, and therefore not
scared or stressed over, the oral exam and treatment we provide. Your pet
receives a sedative and simply falls asleep, awakening once the procedure is
completely over. An added benefit is that our doctors and technicians
don't risk being bitten by an understandably fearful pet!
Having your pet under general anesthesia allows us to deliver appropriate
medications, including analgesics, nerve blocking and anti-inflammatories
to address any potential pain related to inflamed gums or cavities, before
we provide any treatment. Because your pet is under anesthesia, we can
generally complete any treatment needed right away, rather than requiring a second
visit.
We place a small tube down your pet's throat, just like in human surgery, to
protect the airway from bacteria-laden tartar that is removed from the
teeth. This tube also allows us to reliably delivery oxygen and
anesthesia to ensure your pet's safety and comfort.
Because your pet is unconscious and relaxed, we can perform a thorough exam of
the entire mouth, something that is nearly impossible on a conscious pet.
Our technicians examine every tooth surface and probe every area of the gums,
looking for diseased tissue, cavities, and other problems.
The teeth are cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler, and then polished to a smooth
surface, a step that is generally skipped in so-called "anesthesia-free
dental cleanings." Polishing is a vital step because removing the
tartar from the teeth causes microscopic etches in the tooth surface which
creates an ideal environment for plaque and tarter to adhere again.
Polishing smooths the surface of the tooth and decreases the adhesive ability
of plaque.
To ensure your pet is a good candidate for anesthesia, we perform blood tests
that help us to assess the health of vital organs. And your pet is
monitored 100% of the time he or she is under anesthesia by state of the art
equipment and trained, skilled veterinary professionals.
It is important to note that the American
Veterinary Dental Society states that "'Non-anesthetic'
cleaning is not a viable option," because of the many reasons listed above.