19/03/2026
Why we will never recommend anaesthesia-free dentistry.
We are occasionally asked about “anaesthesia free dental cleaning” for pets. While it may sound appealing, we want to be very clear: this is not a safe, effective, or humane way to treat dental disease in animals.
🥶It does not treat the real problem. Dental disease occurs below the gumline, around the tooth roots. Simply scraping visible tartar from the surface of the teeth does nothing to treat the infection and damage underneath the gums.
😱It is frightening and traumatic for pets when someone is holding their mouth open and scraping their teeth while they're fully awake and unable to understand what’s happening. Pets can feel fear, pain and distress during these procedures.
☠️It can be dangerous!
Without proper anaesthesia and airway protection, there is a risk of injury, aspiration of bacteria and debris, and significant stress to the animal.
👩⚕️Proper veterinary dentistry requires training and equipment.
Veterinary dentists and nurses undergo years of training to safely perform dental procedures. A proper dental procedure includes anaesthesia, monitoring, probing of each tooth, cleaning below the gumline, polishing, and dental x-rays to detect hidden disease.
Simply making teeth look cleaner on the surface is not the same as treating dental disease.
Our priority is always your pet’s welfare, comfort and long term health. That means performing dental procedures safely, thoroughly and humanely.
If you have questions about your pet’s dental health, please talk to our team on 0488 671 118, we’re always happy to help you make the best decisions for your pet.