February is National Pet Dental Health Month. With that in mind, I wanted to share a very important and unfortunately common issue facing pet owners, veterinarians and most of all our pets.

The harmful practice of anesthesia-free dental cleanings originated in grooming facilities as a source supplemental service income. Anesthesia-free dentistry is a way for pets and pet owners to avoid general anesthesia during a dental cleaning. Regardless of how great the post-procedure care is, almost all pets who receive this type of dental cleaning often develop periodontal disease below the gum line.

“Anesthesia free dentistry gives a false sense of security to owners even if they do good home care,” says Dr. Bert Dodd, Clinical Associate Professor of Small Animal Dentistry at Texas A&M University’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. “The problem causing periodontal disease is below the gum line – an area that can only be cleaned with the patient under anesthesia.”

This type of dental cleaning can be extremely dangerous. Wearing down the enamel of the pet’s teeth with scaling instruments creates a rough surface for plaque and tartar to accumulate more quickly and in a much higher quantity. Polishing the enamel after scaling leaves smooth surface that delays the accumulation of calculus on the tooth. For pets, polishing can only be performed properly under anesthesia. Furthermore, cleaning only the exposed surface area of the teeth neglects the one place where periodontal disease is most profound – below the gum line.

Periodontal disease is one of the most common problems in pets. If left untreated, it will lead to infection and disease which may spread to other organ systems in the body. Liver, kidney, and heart valve infections are commonly caused by periodontal disease.

Preventive dental exams and regular cleanings are key to avoiding this easily preventable disease. But, in between dental cleanings, taking care of your pet’s teeth at home will help to prevent and delay the onset of problems with the teeth and gums. Use dental home care products – never use human toothpaste! – designed to remove plaque buildup, like a soft-bristled toothbrush and a special pet dentifrice product.

Nobody enjoys going to the dentist and your pet is no exception. However, the agony that comes with poor dental health is no comparison to the few minutes it takes to take care of your pets’ teeth. Think about it this way, you brush your teeth every day but still need regular professional dental cleanings. Shouldn’t your pet receive the same level of dental care? As my mother used to tell me when I asked if I had to brush my teeth – “No, just the ones you want to keep!”

-- Dr. Craig --