Dental Cleaning questions

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

I think what they use after cleaning is a sealant. I don't really know, but I doubt it would be something safe to use except after they've been cleaned or we would be sealing bacteria underneath?

I think you are right. That wouldn't be good.

[Ellie May]

Position statement from the ACVD. Not only is anesthesia free cleaning not really useful, it is also against the law for a company to do this if there is no vet present:

Companion Animal Dental Scaling Without Anesthesia (Download PDF)

In the United States and Canada, only licensed veterinarians can practice veterinary medicine. Veterinary medicine includes veterinary surgery, medicine and dentistry. Anyone providing dental services other than a licensed veterinarian, or a supervised and trained veterinary technician, is practicing veterinary medicine without a license and shall be subject to criminal charges.

This position statement addresses dental scaling procedures performed on pets without anesthesia, often by individuals untrained in veterinary dental techniques. Although the term Anesthesia-Free Dentistry has been used in this context, AVDC prefers to use the more accurate term Non-Professional Dental Scaling (NPDS) to describe this combination.

Owners of pets naturally are concerned when anesthesia is required for their pet. However, performing NPDS on an unanesthetized pet is inappropriate for the following reasons:

1. Dental tartar is firmly adhered to the surface of the teeth. Scaling to remove tartar is accomplished using ultrasonic and sonic power scalers, plus hand instruments that must have a sharp working edge to be used effectively. Even slight head movement by the patient could result in injury to the oral tissues of the patient, and the operator may be bitten when the patient reacts.

2. Professional dental scaling includes scaling the surfaces of the teeth both above and below the gingival margin (gum line), followed by dental polishing. The most critical part of a dental scaling procedure is scaling the tooth surfaces that are within the gingival pocket (the subgingival space between the gum and the root), where periodontal disease is active. Because the patient cooperates, dental scaling of human teeth performed by a professional trained in the procedures can be completed successfully without anesthesia. However, access to the subgingival area of every tooth is impossible in an unanesthetized canine or feline patient. Removal of dental tartar on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet's health, and provides a false sense of accomplishment. The effect is purely cosmetic.

3. Inhalation anesthesia using a cuffed endotracheal tube provides three important advantages... the cooperation of the patient with a procedure it does not understand, elimination of pain resulting from examination and treatment of affected dental tissues during the procedure, and protection of the airway and lungs from accidental aspiration.

4. A complete oral examination, which is an important part of a professional dental scaling procedure, is not possible in an unanesthetized patient. The surfaces of the teeth facing the tongue cannot be examined, and areas of disease and discomfort are likely to be missed.

Safe use of an anesthetic or sedative in a dog or cat requires evaluation of the general health and size of the patient to determine the appropriate drug and dose, and continual monitoring of the patient. Veterinarians are trained in all of these procedures. Prescribing or administering anesthetic or sedative drugs by a non-veterinarian can be very dangerous, and is illegal. Although anesthesia will never be 100% risk-free, modern anesthetic and patient evaluation techniques used in veterinary hospitals minimize the risks, and millions of dental scaling procedures are safely performed each year in veterinary hospitals.

To minimize the need for professional dental scaling procedures and to maintain optimal oral health, the AVDC recommends daily dental home care from an early age. This should include brushing or use of other effective techniques to retard accumulation of dental plaque, such as dental diets and chew materials. This, combined with periodic examination of the patient by a veterinarian and with dental scaling under anesthesia when indicated, will optimize life-long oral health for dogs and cats.

For general information on performance of dental procedures on veterinary patients, please read the AVDC Position Statement on Veterinary Dental Healthcare Providers, which is available on the AVDC web site (Home | AVDC - American Veterinary Dental College). For information on effective oral hygiene products for dogs and cats, visit the Veterinary Oral Health Council web site (Veterinary Oral Health Council).

For further information, send an e-mail message to the AVDC Executive Secretary (ExecSec@AVDC.org).
Adopted by the Board of Directors, April 2004

AVDC Position Statements | AVDC - American Veterinary Dental College

The tartar on the visable portions of the teeth is just a cosmetic issue. It would be very difficult for an owner to scale as close to the gum line as they should. And if the head is moved at all, the gums can be injured and bacteria introduced. And between the teeth, esp. the back molars, almost impossible... And when a dental exam is done under anesthesia, the vet gets a chance to look at the back teeth. Xrays can be taken if needed. If they could do it without anesthesia, they would. More owners would probably consent that way. But they have no desire to clean them just so the dog looks better cosmetically. To each their own, I suppose.

[Maximo]

Thank you for that info Crystal.

Those of you who had dentals done, do you recommend using your regular vet or a doggy dentist?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Thank you for that info Crystal.

Those of you who had dentals done, do you recommend using your regular vet or a doggy dentist?

IMO, that just depends on how particular you want to be. Dog dentists are not needed for routine cleanings or most extractions. If it makes you more comfortable though, that is fine. They are needed for more difficult procedures.

If problems are suspected though, dental xray is extremely important and not all vets have it. Some are also better at dentistry than other. And some let techs do too much. A good portion of vets will try to figure out what needs extracting without xray. Not a good plan. You just need to ask some questions.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

IMO, that just depends on how particular you want to be. Dog dentists are not needed for routine cleanings or most extractions. If it makes you more comfortable though, that is fine. They are needed for more difficult procedures.

If problems are suspected though, dental xray is extremely important and not all vets have it. Some are also better at dentistry than other. And some let techs do too much. A good portion of vets will try to figure out what needs extracting without xray. Not a good plan. You just need to ask some questions.

Very good info to know. Thank you again.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Very good info to know. Thank you again.

You want to be sure that it is the vet doing the cleaning and the tech is assisting. That is not always the case.

My vet checks the teeth and if they find any soft spots during the cleaning or see problems, then they will do an x-ray and proceed from there.

[Raymond's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Position statement from the ACVD. Not only is anesthesia free cleaning not really useful, it is also against the law for a company to do this if there is no vet present:

Companion Animal Dental Scaling Without Anesthesia (Download PDF)

In the United States and Canada, only licensed veterinarians can practice veterinary medicine. Veterinary medicine includes veterinary surgery, medicine and dentistry. Anyone providing dental services other than a licensed veterinarian, or a supervised and trained veterinary technician, is practicing veterinary medicine without a license and shall be subject to criminal charges.

This position statement addresses dental scaling procedures performed on pets without anesthesia, often by individuals untrained in veterinary dental techniques. Although the term Anesthesia-Free Dentistry has been used in this context, AVDC prefers to use the more accurate term Non-Professional Dental Scaling (NPDS) to describe this combination.

Owners of pets naturally are concerned when anesthesia is required for their pet. However, performing NPDS on an unanesthetized pet is inappropriate for the following reasons:

1. Dental tartar is firmly adhered to the surface of the teeth. Scaling to remove tartar is accomplished using ultrasonic and sonic power scalers, plus hand instruments that must have a sharp working edge to be used effectively. Even slight head movement by the patient could result in injury to the oral tissues of the patient, and the operator may be bitten when the patient reacts.

2. Professional dental scaling includes scaling the surfaces of the teeth both above and below the gingival margin (gum line), followed by dental polishing. The most critical part of a dental scaling procedure is scaling the tooth surfaces that are within the gingival pocket (the subgingival space between the gum and the root), where periodontal disease is active. Because the patient cooperates, dental scaling of human teeth performed by a professional trained in the procedures can be completed successfully without anesthesia. However, access to the subgingival area of every tooth is impossible in an unanesthetized canine or feline patient. Removal of dental tartar on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet's health, and provides a false sense of accomplishment. The effect is purely cosmetic.

3. Inhalation anesthesia using a cuffed endotracheal tube provides three important advantages... the cooperation of the patient with a procedure it does not understand, elimination of pain resulting from examination and treatment of affected dental tissues during the procedure, and protection of the airway and lungs from accidental aspiration.

4. A complete oral examination, which is an important part of a professional dental scaling procedure, is not possible in an unanesthetized patient. The surfaces of the teeth facing the tongue cannot be examined, and areas of disease and discomfort are likely to be missed.

Safe use of an anesthetic or sedative in a dog or cat requires evaluation of the general health and size of the patient to determine the appropriate drug and dose, and continual monitoring of the patient. Veterinarians are trained in all of these procedures. Prescribing or administering anesthetic or sedative drugs by a non-veterinarian can be very dangerous, and is illegal. Although anesthesia will never be 100% risk-free, modern anesthetic and patient evaluation techniques used in veterinary hospitals minimize the risks, and millions of dental scaling procedures are safely performed each year in veterinary hospitals.

To minimize the need for professional dental scaling procedures and to maintain optimal oral health, the AVDC recommends daily dental home care from an early age. This should include brushing or use of other effective techniques to retard accumulation of dental plaque, such as dental diets and chew materials. This, combined with periodic examination of the patient by a veterinarian and with dental scaling under anesthesia when indicated, will optimize life-long oral health for dogs and cats.

For general information on performance of dental procedures on veterinary patients, please read the AVDC Position Statement on Veterinary Dental Healthcare Providers, which is available on the AVDC web site (Home | AVDC - American Veterinary Dental College). For information on effective oral hygiene products for dogs and cats, visit the Veterinary Oral Health Council web site (Veterinary Oral Health Council).

For further information, send an e-mail message to the AVDC Executive Secretary (ExecSec@AVDC.org).
Adopted by the Board of Directors, April 2004

AVDC Position Statements | AVDC - American Veterinary Dental College

The tartar on the visable portions of the teeth is just a cosmetic issue. It would be very difficult for an owner to scale as close to the gum line as they should. And if the head is moved at all, the gums can be injured and bacteria introduced. And between the teeth, esp. the back molars, almost impossible... And when a dental exam is done under anesthesia, the vet gets a chance to look at the back teeth. Xrays can be taken if needed. If they could do it without anesthesia, they would. More owners would probably consent that way. But they have no desire to clean them just so the dog looks better cosmetically. To each their own, I suppose.

And you expected them to say what???

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Position statement from the ACVD. Not only is anesthesia free cleaning not really useful, it is also against the law for a company to do this if there is no vet present:

Companion Animal Dental Scaling Without Anesthesia (Download PDF)

In the United States and Canada, only licensed veterinarians can practice veterinary medicine. Veterinary medicine includes veterinary surgery, medicine and dentistry. Anyone providing dental services other than a licensed veterinarian, or a supervised and trained veterinary technician, is practicing veterinary medicine without a license and shall be subject to criminal charges.

This position statement addresses dental scaling procedures performed on pets without anesthesia, often by individuals untrained in veterinary dental techniques. Although the term Anesthesia-Free Dentistry has been used in this context, AVDC prefers to use the more accurate term Non-Professional Dental Scaling (NPDS) to describe this combination.

Owners of pets naturally are concerned when anesthesia is required for their pet. However, performing NPDS on an unanesthetized pet is inappropriate for the following reasons:

1. Dental tartar is firmly adhered to the surface of the teeth. Scaling to remove tartar is accomplished using ultrasonic and sonic power scalers, plus hand instruments that must have a sharp working edge to be used effectively. Even slight head movement by the patient could result in injury to the oral tissues of the patient, and the operator may be bitten when the patient reacts.

2. Professional dental scaling includes scaling the surfaces of the teeth both above and below the gingival margin (gum line), followed by dental polishing. The most critical part of a dental scaling procedure is scaling the tooth surfaces that are within the gingival pocket (the subgingival space between the gum and the root), where periodontal disease is active. Because the patient cooperates, dental scaling of human teeth performed by a professional trained in the procedures can be completed successfully without anesthesia. However, access to the subgingival area of every tooth is impossible in an unanesthetized canine or feline patient. Removal of dental tartar on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet's health, and provides a false sense of accomplishment. The effect is purely cosmetic.

3. Inhalation anesthesia using a cuffed endotracheal tube provides three important advantages... the cooperation of the patient with a procedure it does not understand, elimination of pain resulting from examination and treatment of affected dental tissues during the procedure, and protection of the airway and lungs from accidental aspiration.

4. A complete oral examination, which is an important part of a professional dental scaling procedure, is not possible in an unanesthetized patient. The surfaces of the teeth facing the tongue cannot be examined, and areas of disease and discomfort are likely to be missed.

Safe use of an anesthetic or sedative in a dog or cat requires evaluation of the general health and size of the patient to determine the appropriate drug and dose, and continual monitoring of the patient. Veterinarians are trained in all of these procedures. Prescribing or administering anesthetic or sedative drugs by a non-veterinarian can be very dangerous, and is illegal. Although anesthesia will never be 100% risk-free, modern anesthetic and patient evaluation techniques used in veterinary hospitals minimize the risks, and millions of dental scaling procedures are safely performed each year in veterinary hospitals.

To minimize the need for professional dental scaling procedures and to maintain optimal oral health, the AVDC recommends daily dental home care from an early age. This should include brushing or use of other effective techniques to retard accumulation of dental plaque, such as dental diets and chew materials. This, combined with periodic examination of the patient by a veterinarian and with dental scaling under anesthesia when indicated, will optimize life-long oral health for dogs and cats.

For general information on performance of dental procedures on veterinary patients, please read the AVDC Position Statement on Veterinary Dental Healthcare Providers, which is available on the AVDC web site (Home | AVDC - American Veterinary Dental College). For information on effective oral hygiene products for dogs and cats, visit the Veterinary Oral Health Council web site (Veterinary Oral Health Council).

For further information, send an e-mail message to the AVDC Executive Secretary (ExecSec@AVDC.org).
Adopted by the Board of Directors, April 2004

AVDC Position Statements | AVDC - American Veterinary Dental College

The tartar on the visable portions of the teeth is just a cosmetic issue. It would be very difficult for an owner to scale as close to the gum line as they should. And if the head is moved at all, the gums can be injured and bacteria introduced. And between the teeth, esp. the back molars, almost impossible... And when a dental exam is done under anesthesia, the vet gets a chance to look at the back teeth. Xrays can be taken if needed. If they could do it without anesthesia, they would. More owners would probably consent that way. But they have no desire to clean them just so the dog looks better cosmetically. To each their own, I suppose.

Many thanks for this!!! I ran into someone the other day who was telling me about a groomer who is performing dentals on dogs. I just sent this to her.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Raymond's Mom

And you expected them to say what???

Veterinary medicine requires licensure. In that dentals are veterinary medicine, I am quite sure it is against the law to perform them if you are not licensed.

I have told people on YT for some time now not to diagnose and prescribe because it is practicing veterinary medicine without a license. Many think I am wrong, but one day someone is going to sue someone. Just a matter of time in my opinion. The only thing is getting a prosecutor to "care" about an animal. If it were a person, no problem.

I have seen vets charged by veterinary boards for allowing non licensed people to perform veterinary medicine on animals. I don't know if a prosecutor would go after someone for performing dentals without a license, but I think they should! People have no business doing things without proper training and I know of no school that would train people to perform dentals without the supervision of a vet. I dunno...maybe I am wrong?

[Ellie May]

I know there is a conspiracy theory that all vets want to do it take money from owners, but in most cases that is not true. They like money, but they still aren't going to do things that they really believe are unnecessary.

I spend a fair amount of time in a practice with several vets. I have seen none of them do things for the heck of it. In fact, they do more than what the client is paying for just because they care about the animal. They don't like needing to use anesthesia and they don't like yanking teeth out of an animal's head. It's what they know they have to do though. One of these vets has a special interest in small animal dentistry. I'm sure she stands behind the ACVD statement and she has the same standards for her own dog. Actually, we are friends and I can say she doesn't tell clients one thing and family/friends another.

BTW, my Yorkie hasn't had a cleaning in three years. Hasn't been needed with brushing and OraVet. Her vet could say she needs one, but she isn't going to because it isn't true. Find a vet you can trust and listen to them imo.

[Raymond's Mom]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Veterinary medicine requires licensure. In that dentals are veterinary medicine, I am quite sure it is against the law to perform them if you are not licensed.

I have told people on YT for some time now not to diagnose and prescribe because it is practicing veterinary medicine without a license. Many think I am wrong, but one day someone is going to sue someone. Just a matter of time in my opinion. The only thing is getting a prosecutor to "care" about an animal. If it were a person, no problem.

I have seen vets charged by veterinary boards for allowing non licensed people to perform veterinary medicine on animals. I don't know if a prosecutor would go after someone for performing dentals without a license, but I think they should! People have no business doing things without proper training and I know of no school that would train people to perform dentals without the supervision of a vet. I dunno...maybe I am wrong?

Are you saying that you feel it's against the law for me to scrape my own dogs teeth. There are people who can't pay their bills in this economy. You can try to intimidate on this list with scare tactics but I hope that not everyone will buy into it. I can clean my own dogs teeth if I cannot afford the to pay what the vets charge for a cleaning or choose not to anesthesize my dog yearly. And people need to know that they have alternatives. Yes, if there are loose teeth or there is a severe build up of tarter and infection professional help is needed. But for routine cleaning there are many things a pet owner can do.

You sound knowledgable. Why not try to help everyone. It is a reality that teeth cleaning by most vets is, unfortunately, very expensive and not everyone can afford it. Help teach how to care for the teeth so they either don't get to the point of needing professional intervention or it's very infrequent. Unless you're a vet or vet tech who wants people to pay for yearly cleanings wouldn't you serve a better purpose by helping many?

[salazark]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I know there is a conspiracy theory that all vets want to do it take money from owners, but in most cases that is not true. They like money, but they still aren't going to do things that they really believe are unnecessary.

I spend a fair amount of time in a practice with several vets. I have seen none of them do things for the heck of it. In fact, they do more than what the client is paying for just because they care about the animal. They don't like needing to use anesthesia and they don't like yanking teeth out of an animal's head. It's what they know they have to do though. One of these vets has a special interest in small animal dentistry. I'm sure she stands behind the ACVD statement and she has the same standards for her own dog. Actually, we are friends and I can say she doesn't tell clients one thing and family/friends another.

BTW, my Yorkie hasn't had a cleaning in three years. Hasn't been needed with brushing and OraVet. Her vet could say she needs one, but she isn't going to because it isn't true. Find a vet you can trust and listen to them imo.

I think that is the bottom line. I trust my vet to do what is right for my dog. I've been going to him for over 25 years. He usually gives me choices. He also knows my feelings about the care of my dogs. If I didn't feel like I could trust him or that he was just looking for ways to profit financially I'd be looking for a new vet!

[Ellie May]

You can clean your pup's teeth. I think LJ meant it is likely against the law for companies to offer this service. That was what I was referring to.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Raymond's Mom

Are you saying that you feel it's against the law for me to scrape my own dogs teeth. There are people who can't pay their bills in this economy. You can try to intimidate on this list with scare tactics but I hope that not everyone will buy into it. I can clean my own dogs teeth if I cannot afford the to pay what the vets charge for a cleaning or choose not to anesthesize my dog yearly. And people need to know that they have alternatives. Yes, if there are loose teeth or there is a severe build up of tarter and infection professional help is needed. But for routine cleaning there are many things a pet owner can do.

You sound knowledgable. Why not try to help everyone. It is a reality that teeth cleaning by most vets is, unfortunately, very expensive and not everyone can afford it. Help teach how to care for the teeth so they either don't get to the point of needing professional intervention or it's very infrequent. Unless you're a vet or vet tech who wants people to pay for yearly cleanings wouldn't you serve a better purpose by helping many?

You clearly don't know me well. If I thought what you are doing was against the law, I would say so. I was referring to the groomer I mentioned in another post.

As for people and the economy....that is NO excuse for not taking care of responsibilities. I am honestly pretty sick of people using that as a reason to neglect their pups. There are ways to make money....always a way imo to take care of our responsibilities without placing blame.

The bottom line in many peoples' decisions about s/n and dentals always seems to revolve around money. My take is that rather than admit they don't want to spend the money, they blame the vets for ripping people off. I'm sorry but I don't buy that the majority of vets would ever do a surgical procedure on a dog just for money.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by salazark

I think that is the bottom line. I trust my vet to do what is right for my dog. I've been going to him for over 25 years. He usually gives me choices. He also knows my feelings about the care of my dogs. If I didn't feel like I could trust him or that he was just looking for ways to profit financially I'd be looking for a new vet!

Exactly! Everyone should shop for vets and doctors until they find the right fit!