Professional Dental Cleanings for Dogs & Cats
At Pet Dental Center, we provide comprehensive, professional dental cleanings performed by highly trained veterinary professionals. Just like in human dentistry, proper dental care for pets involves much more than just removing visible tartar—it’s about ensuring the overall health of your pet’s mouth and preventing painful dental diseases.
What Happens During a Veterinary Dental Cleaning?
Every pet receives a thorough oral exam and full-mouth dental X-rays before their cleaning. Why is this important?Because more than 50% of dental disease occurs below the gumline, where it can’t be seen with the naked eye. By using radiographs (X-rays) and CBCT imaging, our veterinarians can evaluate the health of each individual tooth and determine if any require treatment beyond a standard cleaning.
Once the oral exam is complete, the dental cleaning process begins, which includes:
✔️ Ultrasonic scaling – Using specialized tools to remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline.
✔️ Hand scaling – A detailed approach to ensure a thorough clean in hard-to-reach areas.
✔️ Polishing – Smoothing the tooth surfaces to prevent future plaque buildup.
For pets with advanced periodontal disease, specialized techniques or periodontal surgery may be required to fully address deep infections or damaged tissue.
Is Anesthesia Safe for My Pet?
We understand that one of the biggest concerns pet parents have about dental cleanings is anesthesia safety. Rest assured, at Pet Dental Center, your pet’s safety is our top priority.
✔️ Customized Anesthetic Protocols – Every pet is different, which is why we create an individualized anesthesia plan based on their age, breed, medical history, and any underlying health conditions. This ensures the safest and most effective sedation for your pet.
✔️ Advanced Monitoring & Skilled Medical Team – While under anesthesia, your pet is continuously monitored by our highly trained veterinary team using state-of-the-art monitoring equipment.
✔️ Board-Certified Anesthesiologist on Staff – For pets with pre-existing medical conditions or those at higher anesthetic risk, we have the expertise of a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist available to oversee and customize their care. This ensures the safest possible experience, even for pets with heart disease, kidney disease, or other complex health concerns.
Anesthesia in veterinary dentistry is very safe when performed with the appropriate protocols, monitoring, and experienced staff—all of which we provide at Pet Dental Center. If you have any concerns, our team is happy to discuss the process and answer any questions to give you peace of mind.
What Happens After the Cleaning?
After your pet’s dental cleaning, we take steps to maintain their oral health:
✔️ If oral surgery was performed, a temporary plaque barrier is applied to protect healing areas.
✔️ If no extractions or surgery were needed, we provide recommendations for immediate at-home care, including daily brushing and other preventive measures to keep your pet’s mouth healthy long-term.
What About Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleanings?
You may have heard about anesthesia-free dental cleanings, but these procedures do not provide the same level of careas a professional cleaning under anesthesia. While they may remove some visible plaque, they cannot address disease below the gumline, where the most serious problems occur. Additionally, without anesthesia, pets must be restrained, making the experience stressful and increasing the risk of injury.
For more information, visit the American Veterinary Dental College’s (AVDC) official statement on anesthesia-free cleanings: AVDC Position Statement on Anesthesia-Free Dentistry
At Pet Dental Center, we believe in providing the highest standard of care to ensure your pet’s dental health is thoroughly evaluated and properly treated. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a dental cleaning for your pet, contact us today!
