Recovery time after the procedure
Anesthetic: If your pet was not anesthetized and their treatment was anesthesia-free then there isn’t any ‘recovery’ time. Always watch your pet after any procedure to ensure there isn’t any discomfort and talk with the dental technician if there seems to be anything out of the ordinary going on with your pet.
Non-anesthetic: If your pet did have an anesthetic dental procedure you should prepare a quiet and comfortable area for them to rest after surgery. Your pet should begin recovering from the anesthetic within a few hours, though it can take 24-48 hours to fully recover. Expect the pet to be lethargic and groggy.
TIP: Sometimes pets experience trouble walking, nausea, and vomiting. Always call your veterinarian if you notice your pet is not recovering well from anesthesia as this might be a serious medical concern.
How does a veterinary dental procedure differ from an anesthesia-free dental procedure?
Veterinarians use general anesthesia during dental procedures to permit a thorough oral examination and treatment of any diagnosed dental disease. Prior to anesthesia, each pet receives a thorough pre-surgical exam, pre-anesthetic blood testing, and pre-anesthetic sedation. Next, an injectable anesthetic agent is given via an intravenous catheter. This injection anesthetizes the pet, allowing your veterinary team to place a breathing tube that can be used to deliver inhalant anesthetic for the duration of the dental procedure.
While the pet is anesthetized, a veterinary technician and veterinarian work together to evaluate the pet’s oral health. The entire oral cavity is examined, looking for evidence of masses or other lesions on the lips, gums, palate, or tongue. Each tooth is carefully examined visually, then further evaluated with a periodontal probe. A periodontal probe allows a veterinarian or veterinary technician to find periodontal pockets, deep pockets in the gums, indicating the presence of periodontal disease. Full-mouth dental radiographs (X-rays) are also typically performed, allowing your veterinarian to evaluate the jaw bones and the roots of the teeth.
After the mouth is fully examined and all findings are documented in the pet’s medical record, the veterinary technician will scale the pet’s teeth with an ultrasonic scaler. This scaler is used not only to remove visible surface tartar, but also to remove tartar from just below the gumline and the areas between the teeth. Additional treatments (such as extractions, advanced dental procedures, or local antibiotic administration) may also be performed if needed. Finally, your pet’s teeth will be polished and your pet will be recovered from anesthesia.
Here are 8 main differences between non-anesthetic and anesthetic dental cleanings:
Without Anesthesia
With Anesthesia
When is it needed?
Every 6 months to maintain dental health
When is it needed?
Procedure Time
Procedure Time
4 to 8 hours (including recovery time)
Down Time
Down Time
Medications
Medications
Sedatives and general anesthesia (both IV and inhaled) are used
Lab Tests
Lab Tests
Requires pre-anesthetic lab work to make sure pet’s internal organs can support general anesthesia
Pricing
$179 – $269 depending on the pet’s size
Pricing
$600 to $1,200 depending on the procedure
Anesthetic: Anesthetic dental cleanings are required for severe periodontal disease. Also, when teeth need to be extracted, the use of sedation is required to avoid severe pain. If there is a complicated tooth fracture or an emergency your pet will likely need to be anesthetized.
In this article you’ll find more details about anesthetic dental cleanings for pets and a list of reasons for when it’s strictly necessary.
Non-anesthetic: These procedures are completely safe! Non-anesthetic dental cleanings don’t require blood work or medication, there are no side-effects and no recovery time. These are performed by dental technicians. Some states do require a veterinarian present while the procedure is being performed.
Anesthetic: These can take up to six hours including recovery time. The time depends on what’s involved during the teeth cleaning. For example, dental extraction procedures can take anywhere from 1 to 2.5 hours.
Non-anesthetic: Dentals performed without anesthesia are typically done by a qualified veterinary technician. These can take from 45 minutes up to an hour – no recovery time needed.
Dr Mike performs full mouth teeth extractions
Senior dog anesthesia can be a controversial topic. Is your dog is too old for anesthesia? Is living with the status quo better than risking anesthesia? Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby guides you through how to make this decision in the best interest of your dear old dog.