Regular toothbrushing is a well-accepted hygiene necessity for people, and we know that oral health takes consistency and commitment. Dental issues are not exclusive to humans—dogs and cats need the same oral care we provide for ourselves, because without proper oral hygiene, they can develop serious dental conditions. For complete oral health, your pet needs regular home dental care and periodic professional dental cleanings.

Our Aloha Veterinary Hospital team is skilled in pets’ oral health assessments and professional dental cleanings, but because dental procedures require your pet to be anesthetized, we understand that you may be hesitant for your pet to have this done. You can help allay your fears by learning everything you can about pet dental cleanings—from start to finish.

#1: Annual pet wellness and dental examination

Our Aloha Veterinary Hospital team recommends all pets have annual wellness exams, during which we also evaluate their teeth and oral health. If your veterinarian notes abnormalities, such as tartar, gingivitis, tooth fractures, or tooth resorption, we will recommend your pet undergo a professional dental cleaning. 

#2: Preanesthetic pet workup

A few days before your pet’s dental procedure, we will perform a blood test to evaluate their liver and kidney function, which can affect anesthetic drug metabolism. For older pets or those who have a heart murmur, we may recommend additional tests such as a urinalysis, chest X-rays, or heart ultrasound. If we find any concerning health issues, we may delay your pet’s procedure until their health condition is controlled. However, keep in mind that pet anesthesia is safe, and we can usually make minor adjustments to accommodate your pet’s condition.

#3: Morning pet drop-off and hospital admission

On procedure day, a team member will check your pet into the hospital first thing in the morning. We will ask about medications your pet is taking, discuss expectations and costs, and have you sign consent forms. We may find abnormalities on X-ray or during our anesthetized exam, so we ask that you remain available by phone all day to discuss additional treatments as they arise.

#4: Day-of preanesthetic pet examination

After admission, our attending veterinarian will re-examine your pet and obtain their baseline vital signs to ensure nothing has changed since their most recent visit. If necessary, we will also repeat your pet’s blood test.

#5: Pet presurgery medication and intravenous catheter placement

When we’re ready to begin your pet’s professional dental cleaning, we provide them with an injection of preanesthetic drugs that are designed to sedate and relax your furry companion. Once your pet is sufficiently relaxed, our team places an intravenous (IV) catheter, which enables us to easily administer their necessary medications and fluids. If your pet needs extra hydration, we start fluids before beginning the procedure.

#6: Anesthetic pet induction and monitoring

Our skilled, credentialed veterinary nursing team will administer drugs that induce anesthesia, and place your pet’s breathing tube, which protects their airway from fluids and stomach contents, and allows our team to administer oxygen and anesthetic gas. A dedicated staff member monitors your pet continuously throughout the procedure, using advanced equipment, and adjusting the anesthesia as needed.

#7: Pet dental procedure

After ensuring your pet is comfortable, a credentialed nursing staff member and veterinarian begin the dental procedure. A thorough professional dental procedure includes:

  • Scaling — We use ultrasonic and hand instruments to remove all visible tartar and that below the gumline.
  • Polishing — After scaling, we use a motorized polisher to remove microscratches and stains, and smooth all tooth surfaces.
  • X-rays — Our team takes your pet’s full-mouth dental X-rays, which reveal tooth root and jawbone health. Dental X-rays are essential, because studies show that around 28% of dogs and 41% of cats whose teeth appear healthy actually have dental disease that can only be seen with X-rays. 
  • Dental examination and charting — Our veterinarian carefully evaluates each tooth and records abnormalities in a special dental chart.
  • Treatments — Diseased teeth are usually extracted, but sometimes your veterinarian may provide other treatments such as root planing or antibiotic gels.

#8: Anesthesia recovery and pain management for your pet

When the procedure is complete and we’re confident that your pet’s oral health has been restored, we turn off the anesthesia and allow your pet to recover while they continue to receive oxygen. Depending on the dental work your pet has experienced, we administer postoperative pain medications or anti-inflammatories. Once your pet can swallow on their own, we remove their breathing tube and move them to a warm, comfortable area to continue their supervised recovery.

#9: Pet hospital discharge

Once your pet is awake and their vitals have returned to normal, you can bring home your furry companion. We provide written discharge instructions and pain or antibiotic medications. Most pets are back to normal the next morning, and you may find you have a whole new pet who no longer has chronic oral pain.

#10: Pet follow-up visit and at-home dental care

A few weeks after your pet’s dental procedure, we recheck them to ensure their extraction sites have healed and their gums are no longer irritated. At that time, we will discuss appropriate at-home dental care strategies, such as toothbrushing and oral health products, to help your pet’s newly cleaned teeth stay healthy and white.

Depending on a pet’s age, breed, and overall genetics, the time between their professional dental cleanings varies. To schedule your pet’s professional dental cleaning, especially if a year or more has passed since their last dental exam, contact our Aloha Veterinary Hospital team.