While some people may claim that anesthesia-free dentistry or tooth scaling is safer and less expensive than a traditional dental cleaning, the procedure being performed is not safe or helpful for our companion animals.
Safety Concerns
Animals do not understand the process of getting their teeth cleaned. Restraint for the length of such a procedure, even if the animal is not struggling, is anxiety and fear producing. Restraining an animal for a lengthy procedure also increases the risk of a traumatic event if the animal fights against the restraint. Scaling teeth can also be a painful process, especially if gingivitis is present. Fear, anxiety, and pain cannot be prevented during the procedure without appropriate anesthetic medications.
Treatment of Disease
It is also not possible to clean and examine a pet’s teeth thoroughly without sedation and anesthesia. Simply scraping tartar off the teeth of an animal does not treat dental disease. After an anesthesia-free scaling, a pet’s teeth may appear to be clean and bright, but the surface is not where the disease exists. Periodontal disease is not a disease of the visible tooth but of the tooth structures and surrounding tissue under the gumline.
At least sixty percent of the tooth structures are not visible above the gums. Without appropriate cleaning under the gumline and intraoral radiographs to visualize the bone around the tooth, the disease is not being appropriately treated. Visualization with dental imaging allows detection of the disease below the gumline. Without appropriate polishing after scaling, teeth are also more likely to accumulate plaque, which then leads to further disease.
Benefits of Anesthesia for Dental Cleaning
Anesthesia allows a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) to be performed. This includes a thorough oral exam, cleaning (including under the gumline), dental radiographs and/or Cone Beam CT to determine what disease process may be occurring around the teeth, and treatment of that disease to improve health and comfort.
Anesthesia allows deeper treatments to be performed, like closed or open root planing and oronasal fistula repair that would never be able to be performed with an animal awake. Anesthesia also allows the airway of the pet to be protected from any fluid and debris that will be present during the procedure. Our pets do not know to spit or swallow on command or hold a film in their mouth while a picture is being taken.
Comparison to Humans
While the idea of a pet having their teeth cleaned while sitting in a chair at the dentist may be appealing to many owners, it is not in the best interest of our pets. As humans, we are able to understand the benefit of remaining still for dental radiographs, Cone Beam CT imaging, and deep cleaning and polishing. Even with that knowledge, many people still require some form of sedation and/or anti-anxiety medication to visit the dentist.
Let’s give our pets the benefit of anesthesia for their dental care so they can have the comfort of dental health and minimize any pain or fear they could experience. If you have concerns about anesthesia for your pet, check out I Am Concerned About Putting My Pet Through Anesthesia for a Dental Cleaning or Procedure and Why Do We Use a Board Certified Veterinary Anesthesiologist.
For more information about the risks of anesthesia-free dental cleanings.
Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning Isn’t Worth the Risk
Anesthesia-free dental cleaning may sound appealing, but it simply cannot provide the thorough care, comfort, or disease prevention our pets need. True dental health requires cleaning below the gumline, radiographs to detect hidden problems, and treatments that can only be performed safely and effectively under anesthesia.
Your pet deserves dentistry that protects their long-term comfort, health, and quality of life.
If you have questions or want to schedule a proper dental evaluation, contact us today, we’re here to help your pet stay healthy from tooth to tail.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (12/03/2025) Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash