As you know, my Tiffany just got through her dental. My vet's office has two veterinarians, the owner, whom I frequently see and the one who did Tiffany's dental. The owner's been practicing since the 1960s and the other graduated from my university in the last 7 or 8 years. I saw them both and spoke with them a lot during the whole time a was trying to decide whether to do Tiffany's dental, and they both agreed that a dental was the best way to prevent other serious problems. They had been recommending a dental for about a year and half, and I put if off because of my own personal fears.
I think that since Yorkies are small, sometimes the vet takes into account when weighing the costs and benefits of a dental. Also, my vet explained that a lot of the times when it comes to pulling teeth, they often can't tell by looking at the surface. There may be minimal amount of tartar on the outside, but if the germs have found their way under the gum line, it's only a matter of time before they become loose. The only surefire way to diagnose those is through a dental xray which they cant do unless the dog is under anesthesia. Tiffany lost 8 teeth yesterday which was way more than I expected since most of her front teeth looked very white and clean. Apparently, even though the teeth looked great, the gum line had receded to the point where the roots had been exposed.
I hope this little tidbit helps. Ultimate though if you still don't feel comfortable, maybe it is time to find a new vet. No matter what the reasoning, it's important you and your baby feel at ease.
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