Daily teeth brushing is definitely the key element to maintaining good oral hygiene. However, brushing alone does not clean all of the surfaces of the teeth, nor can it eliminate existing problems in the mouth such as tartar, fractured teeth, wear on the teeth, etc… Unfortunately, not every animal will allow its owner to brush its teeth on a daily basis. This is why dental procedures which are performed under general anesthesia are recommended. The use of general anesthesia is required because unlike humans, animals are not able to sit quietly in a comfortable reclining chair and keep their mouths open for an extended period of time. Also, animals are not able to tell us if they are experiencing discomfort during dental procedures such as extractions and restorations. Depending on the age and the state of your animal’s health, blood tests might be recommended by your veterinarian prior to the administration of a general anesthesia.

Ideally, a teeth cleaning should be done on your animal once a year and some medical conditions require that it be done even more often.   Good dental health contributes to:

• Better mastication
• Improved general health of the animal
• Relief of pain
• Elimination of infection
• Decreased bacteraemia (circulation of bacteria in the blood)
• Prolonged life expectancy of your animal