10/23/2025
Lets Talk Dental Health - Q & A🦷🪥
With our recent post regarding our lower wait times we have had a lot of questions about dentals and what they entail. Below are some common questions and answers! If you would like to learn more please reach out via phone, text, or email. We would love to connect with you!
Q: Are your dentals done under anesthesia?
A: This is the most common question we have been seeing in recent weeks. Yes- our dentals are fully anesthetized. In order for us to fully and safely clean your pet's mouth (including under the gum line), your pet needs to be asleep to make things safe and comfortable for everyone. Our dental packages include the sedation, pre anesthetic blood panel, IV fluids, nail trim, as well as full mouth radiographs, and dental scaling and polish (and extractions if required). If you are interested in learning more about anesthesia vs anesthesia free dentals please see the link below!
Q: Are your dentals monitored?
A: Yes! During your pets dental an RVT will monitor their anesthesia the whole time, keeping a close eye on heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature and SpO2. If anything changes throughout the procedure the RVT alerts the DVM of these changes and adjustments are made accordingly.
Q: Why does my pet need full mouth radiographs?
A: Many issues lie beneath the gum line and cannot be seen with the naked eye. X-rays often show us that there are bigger issues below which may warrant extraction.
Q: Can my pet still eat if they lose all their teeth?
A: Absolutely! They may need to switch to softer foods, but they will live a healthier life without the diseased teeth.
Q: At what point are extractions needed?
A: When we look at a dental radiograph and there is 50% or more bone loss that tooth will likely need extraction. Other issues warranting an extraction could be fractured teeth, pulp/nerve exposure, abscessing/infection. We do not want to pull any more teeth than what is medically or ethically needed. Healthy teeth are extremely hard to extract therefore if a tooth is salvageable it will be.
Q: Is it safe for older pets?
A: Before we book the procedure, we will book an exam with a doctor so that your pet can be fully assessed and a proper estimate can be given. At this time, any potential concerns involving anesthesia can be discussed. All of our dental packages include pre-surgical bloodwork, this will alert the veterinarian of any underlying issues that may prevent us from proceeding. If the risks outweigh the benefits, we will not proceed with the dental. However, we have done many anesthetic procedures on older pets successfully!
Anesthesia-free dentistry is a service that is commonly offered at pet stores and grooming facilities. Veterinarians use general anesthesia during dental procedures to permit a thorough oral examination and treatment of any diagnosed dental disease. Unfortunately, anesthesia-free dentistry is often....
