01/08/2025
👀 You may have come across the ads for these at-home ultrasonic tooth scaler/cleaning devices for pets. Although it may sound like a great idea to pet owners, using this kind of device at home is essentially performing anesthesia-free dental cleaning. It not only fails to clean pets’ teeth thoroughly, but it also poses many risks:
⚠ Without cooling with water, it can overheat teeth and cause damage.
⚠ It creates micro-scratches on enamel. Without polishing, the tooth surface becomes rough, and plaque will be more likely to adhere.
⚠ Teeth may look cleaner on the surface, but plaque and calculus are still present underneath the gumline, on the inside of teeth, and in other places where owners cannot reach while pets are awake.
⚠ The device aerosolizes bacteria during use, which will be inhaled by both pets and pet owners (dangerous!).
⚠ When it’s done for patients with painful dental conditions, it causes a significant amount of pain and discomfort. It can damage the relationship between pets and their owners, and in some cases, owners may be bitten by their pets.
⚠ Without proper diagnosis and treatment by professionals, disease can be hidden and will continue to cause pain and discomfort for pets.
