Ever wonder what a dental cleaning is really all about?
What happens when my pet undergoes a dental cleaning?
Is a dental cleaning really necessary?
A dental procedure at Birdneck Animal Hospital does not begin until all pre-anesthetic tests have been completed and closely checked for any abnormality that may indicate an increased risk of anesthesia. If no increased risk is noted, an intravenous catheter is placed. The pet is then anesthetized, first with injectable medication and then intubated (a breathing tube placed in the trachea) which allows the patient to be maintained with inhalant anesthesia. This very important step allows us to easily control the depth of anesthesia and prevent bacteria and debris from the teeth from being washed down into the lungs. We then begin to use five different monitoring systems. The first is the veterinary assistant. This person monitors the patient from the moment of anesthesia to the time of full wakefulness. Other monitors are a pulse oximeter which monitors the blood oxygen level, an esophogeal stethescope which gives us easy access to the heart sounds, a respiratory monitor which beeps with each breath and alerts us if there has not been a breath in 30 seconds, and an electrocardiogram. We tremendously reduce the risk of anesthetic procedures by being this careful.
This first photo shows moderated dental disease. 
Gingivitis (red inflamed gums) is seen above several of the upper teeth, especially when compared to the healthier lower gums. Deposits of calculus can be seen around the base of the upper canine tooth and covering most of the upper fourth premolar. Once this rock-hard material is scaled off, the inflamed gums become even more evident. The calculus traps bacteria below the gum line, which leads to infection, pain, and an increased likelihood of bacteria entering the blood stream where it can hurt the heart, kidneys and liver.
The second photo is after scaling, polishing, therapeutic laser treatment and fluoride treatment.
At our animal clinic, we provide health services for all aspects of pet health. If you have questions about pet oral health or would like to schedule a pet dental cleaning, please email us or call us at 757-355-5694.