Dental Health Month is an ideal time to focus on one of the most important and often overlooked elements of your pet’s overall well-being: oral health. In dogs and cats, dental disease is extremely common, yet it frequently progresses silently, causing discomfort and long-term health consequences before obvious signs appear.
At our hospital, dental care is approached as preventive medicine, not a cosmetic service. Guided by standards set by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), we believe that comprehensive dental cleanings performed under anesthesia represent the highest level of care for our patients.
Why Dental Disease Deserves Attention
Periodontal disease begins quietly, with bacteria accumulating along and beneath the gumline. Over time, this inflammation damages the structures supporting the teeth, leading to infection, bone loss, and chronic pain. Because much of this disease occurs below the surface, pets often continue eating and behaving normally even as advanced disease develops.
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, effective treatment requires thorough evaluation and cleaning of the areas beneath the gumline, where the most significant pathology resides. This level of care cannot be achieved without anesthesia.
Anesthetic Dental Cleanings: Thoughtful, Complete, and Comfortable Care
A professional dental cleaning performed under anesthesia allows our team to deliver meticulous, individualized care in a calm and controlled environment. This approach enables us to:
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Perform a comprehensive oral examination, assessing each tooth and surrounding tissue
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Obtain full-mouth dental radiographs to identify disease hidden beneath the gums
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Thoroughly clean above and below the gumline, where bacteria cause the greatest harm
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Address diseased or painful teeth during the same procedure
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Keep your pet comfortable, pain-free, and stress-free throughout the process
Following AAHA and AVMA guidelines, our anesthetic protocols are tailored to each patient and supported by pre-procedure screening and continuous monitoring. Modern veterinary anesthesia is extremely safe and allows us to provide dental care that is both compassionate and precise, including for senior pets.
Why We Do Not Offer Non-Anesthetic Dental Cleanings
While non-anesthetic dental cleanings may appear appealing, leading veterinary organizations, including the AVMA, AAHA, and the American Veterinary Dental College, do not consider them an appropriate standard of care.
Non-anesthetic dental cleanings do not:
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Treat disease beneath the gumline
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Allow for dental radiographs or periodontal assessment
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Address infection or painful pathology
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Provide adequate comfort or stress reduction for pets
Most importantly, these procedures may give the appearance of a healthy mouth while allowing significant dental disease to progress unnoticed. In keeping with our commitment to patient welfare and high standards of care, we choose not to offer services that fall short of these guidelines.
Oral Health Is an Investment in Whole-Body Wellness
Chronic dental infection contributes to inflammation throughout the body and has been linked to systemic health concerns affecting the heart, kidneys, and liver. Proactive dental care helps protect not only your pet’s oral health, but also their long-term comfort and vitality.
Dental Health Month is the perfect time to prioritize preventive dental care before problems become painful or complex.
Our Commitment to Elevated Veterinary Dentistry
At our hospital, dental care reflects the same level of attention, precision, and compassion that defines every aspect of our medicine. By offering only anesthetic dental cleanings, we ensure that each patient receives care that is thorough, humane, and aligned with the highest veterinary standards.
If you have questions about your pet’s dental health or would like to schedule a Dental Health Month evaluation, our team is happy to help.