Professional Pet Dental Cleaning: What to Expect

Dental disease is one of the most common health problems affecting dogs and cats. In fact, many pets have some degree of dental disease by the time they reach adulthood, even when their teeth look reasonably clean to their owners.

A professional dental cleaning performed by our veterinary team is more than simply removing visible tartar. It allows the entire mouth to be thoroughly examined, the teeth cleaned above and below the gumline and any painful or diseased teeth identified.

So, what actually happens when your pet comes in for a professional dental clean?

Before the dental procedure

Our veterinarians will first examine your pet and assess their overall health. Depending on your pet's age, health and medical history, blood tests may be recommended before anaesthesia.

Blood testing can help assess organ function and identify issues that may affect how your pet responds to anaesthesia. Our vets will discuss the most appropriate tests for your individual pet.

Your pet will usually need to fast before the procedure, with specific instructions provided by the veterinary team.

Why does my pet need an anaesthetic?

A proper dental cleaning cannot be safely or thoroughly performed on an awake dog or cat.

Anaesthesia allows our veterinary team to:

• Carefully examine every tooth

• Clean underneath the gumline

• Take dental X-rays when required

• Probe around the teeth to assess periodontal pockets

• Remove painful or diseased teeth if necessary

• Polish the teeth after scaling

• Work safely without causing fear, pain or stress

Importantly, cleaning only the visible surface of the teeth would miss disease hiding underneath the gums.

A thorough dental examination

Once your pet is under anaesthesia, our veterinary team can perform a much more detailed examination of their mouth.

Each tooth is assessed individually and the gums are checked for signs of inflammation, infection, recession and periodontal disease.

Dental X-rays may also be recommended. These can reveal problems below the gumline that cannot be seen simply by looking at the tooth, including damaged tooth roots, bone loss and other hidden disease.

Scaling and polishing

Specialised dental equipment is used to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, including areas beneath the gumline.

Once the teeth have been thoroughly cleaned, they are polished. Polishing smooths microscopic irregularities in the tooth surface, helping to reduce the areas where plaque can stick.

What if a tooth needs to be removed?

Sometimes a dental procedure reveals teeth that are damaged, loose, infected or otherwise causing pain.

If extractions are needed, our veterinarians will remove the affected teeth using appropriate techniques and pain relief. Dental X-rays can be particularly useful for assessing the roots before and after extraction.

Our veterinary team will discuss any significant findings and the recommended treatment with you.

Recovery after the procedure

After the dental cleaning, your pet will be monitored closely as they wake from anaesthesia.

They may be a little sleepy or quiet for the rest of the day. If extractions have been performed, our vets will provide specific instructions about food, medication, activity and oral care during recovery.

Most pets are surprisingly comfortable after dental treatment, particularly when diseased or painful teeth have been addressed.

Will professional cleaning prevent dental disease?

Professional cleaning is an important part of managing your pet's dental health, but dental care shouldn't stop when they leave the clinic.

Plaque begins building up again after a dental clean, so ongoing home care is essential. Depending on your pet, this may include regular tooth brushing, dental diets, dental treats or other products recommended by our veterinary team.

Our vets can help you choose the most appropriate approach for your pet.

Don't wait for bad breath

Bad breath isn't simply something that pets "just have". It can be a sign of dental disease.

Other signs can include red or bleeding gums, yellow or brown tartar, difficulty eating, dropping food, excessive drooling, pawing at the mouth or changes in behaviour.

Some pets show very few obvious signs despite having significant dental disease, which is why regular veterinary dental examinations are so important.

A professional dental clean isn't just about making your pet's teeth look better. It's about finding and treating disease, relieving pain and helping protect their overall health.