Why Anesthesia is Necessary for Dental Cleanings and Treatments

                Any time our pets have to undergo anesthesia, we naturally get worried.  General anesthesia comes with inherent risks including minor reactions such as vomiting while anesthetized or during recovery, to more serious risks that can be life-threatening.  West Ridge Animal Hospital takes every precaution possible to reduce risks associated with anesthesia by performing pre-anesthetic exams and blood work to identify any possible problems before the animal is under anesthesia.  Examination by a veterinarian can identify conditions that may put your pet at risk while in surgery.  Risk factors include but are not limited to: heart disease, obesity, advanced age, and dehydration.  Blood panels allow the veterinarian to “take a look inside” the animal to be sure of their health prior to surgery.  They look for signs of infection; kidney and liver disease, as these organs are where the body metabolizes the gas anesthesia; or any other health conditions that may compound the risks associated with general anesthesia.  Owners are also asked to fast their pets before anesthesia, and while anesthetized, patients are intubated, just like humans are for procedures.  Fasting and intubation reduces the risk of patients vomiting and aspirating on food, which can cause aspiration pneumonia. 

A Veterinary Technician shaves the
leg prior to placing the IV Catheter

                While under anesthesia, patients are closely monitored by a trained technician.  Vital signs including heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and blood pressure are monitored and recorded.  These records are kept in the patient’s chart for future reference.  Patients also have an intravenous catheter placed to safely and efficiently deliver fluids to keep them hydrated, and medications for pain and antibiotics if necessary.  Waking up from anesthesia can be disorienting for some patients, which is why every patient has a trained technician dedicated just to helping that patient recover from the effects of anesthesia. 

                The risks of general anesthesia on a healthy pet are generally outweighed by the health benefits your pet will receive from a professional anesthetized dental cleaning.  Removal of plaque and tartar not only make teeth look nice and their breath smell better, but reduces the risk of progressive periodontal disease, which can cause abscessed teeth and jaw bone loss.  Bacteria allowed to flourish in the mouth can easily enter the blood stream and cause other systemic infections of the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, and neurological systems.  According to an article from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): "Untreated periodontal infections often lead to more serious health problems because of chronic pain and infection, and subsequent stress on the immune system," says Dr. Carlson. "These untreated conditions can then lead to heart valve disease, kidney disease, and even diabetes and cancer, not to mention the significant discomfort associated with dental infections.”

                Some pet owners who are not comfortable with anesthesia opt to give their pets what are called “anesthesia-free” dental cleanings.  During these types of cleanings, pets are sometimes sedated and sometimes left fully conscious.  Metal dental tools are then used to scrape the plaque and tartar off the teeth.  There are however, problems with this method of cleaning.  The first is that conscious or semi-conscious animals may not tolerate having their mouths handled and may attempt to struggle.  This is not safe for the pet or the people handling the pet, especially since most dental tools are sharp; they could end up injuring the pet or themselves.  During an anesthetized cleaning we

Ultra Sonic Scaler

have the ability to use an Ultrasonic Scaler to remove plaque and tartar build-up.  This special tool uses pressurized water and vibration to clean, rather than scraping with metal tools.  Scraping the teeth with something harder than the surface of the tooth can actually create scratches and cracks in the tooth’s enamel.  These spaces will weaken the tooth and also create the perfect place for even more bacteria to thrive. 

Radiograph of Canine Teeth

These anesthesia-free cleanings only allow the tops, or crowns, of the teeth to be cleaned.  This is more cosmetic than it is therapeutic, or for the benefit of the pet’s health.  Anesthesia is also required to probe each tooth, remove debris from below the gum line, and to take intra-oral radiographs.  At least 60% of the tooth is located below the gum line.  Radiographs allow the veterinarian to evaluate this section of the tooth, check for fractures, bone loss, and abscesses.  Occasionally, a pet may need to have a tooth extracted.  This can only be done safely and pain-free with the use of general anesthesia. 

                For these reasons, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which sets the standard for veterinary practice and care, recently updated their guidelines for veterinary dental procedures.  According to another article from the AVMA, “The guidelines state that cleaning a companion animal’s teeth without general anesthesia and intubation is unacceptable and below the standard of care.”  While there are always risks associated with general anesthesia, in healthy animals that have received the proper pre-anesthetic examination and lab work the benefits of receiving a professional anesthetized dental cleaning far outweigh the risks.  Contact your veterinarian today about scheduling a cleaning for your cat or dog!