Frequently Asked Questions

Bad breath is often one of the first signs of dental disease, usually caused by bacteria, plaque, or infection in the mouth. It’s more than just a nuisance—it’s a sign that something deeper may be wrong.

We recommend scheduling a dental exam. Depending on the severity:

• Mild cases may be treated with a professional cleaning and a home care plan.
• Moderate to severe disease may require periodontal treatment or extractions with appropriate pain management and healing support.

Yes—just like humans, pets need more than brushing alone. Veterinary dental cleanings under anesthesia are essential to remove plaque and tartar from below the gumline and to prevent periodontal disease, pain, and tooth loss.

No—age is not a disease. Many senior pets safely undergo anesthesia every day. We tailor each anesthetic plan to protect your pet’s health status. With modern monitoring and care, most pets recover within 1–2 hours and return home alert and comfortable the same day.

While anesthesia-free dental cleanings may sound appealing, they do not provide the same level of care, safety, or diagnostic value as a professional veterinary dental procedure under anesthesia.

Here’s why:

They Only Clean What You Can See

Anesthesia-free cleanings focus only on removing visible plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth (called “cosmetic cleanings”). While teeth may look cleaner afterward, these procedures do nothing to address the most serious issues that occur below the gumline, where infections, bone loss, and periodontal disease begin.

They Can’t Treat Below the Gumline

The area beneath the gumline is where most dental disease hides—this includes inflammation, infection, loose teeth, and bone loss. Without anesthesia, it’s impossible to:

• Clean or scale under the gumline (subgingival scaling)
• Apply medications or perform deep cleaning treatments
• Remove diseased teeth safely

They Can’t Take X-Rays

Dental x-rays are essential to identify problems that aren’t visible during a surface exam, such as:

• Abscesses
• Root fractures
• Tooth resorption
• Bone loss – These issues often cause pain or infection and require treatment—but without x-rays, they go completely undetected.

They Miss Diagnoses

Without a full oral exam under anesthesia—including probing around each tooth and using dental radiographs—a veterinarian cannot accurately diagnose or treat dental disease. Pets may appear fine at home while silently suffering from chronic oral pain or infection.

They Can Be Risky and Stressful

Trying to clean a pet’s teeth while they are awake can:

• Cause fear, anxiety, or aggression
• Result in injury to the pet or staff
• Make it difficult to perform even basic inspection safely
• Anesthesia Keeps Pets Safe and Comfortable

Veterinary dental procedures under anesthesia allow us to:

• Perform a thorough oral exam
• Take full-mouth dental x-rays
• Clean above and below the gumline
• Safely extract diseased teeth if needed
• Keep your pet pain-free and still throughout the process

Our team follows strict safety protocols, including pre-anesthetic bloodwork, monitoring, and personalized care plans to ensure each patient receives safe and effective treatment.

Without anesthesia, we risk underdiagnosing serious conditions. We encourage you to visit the American Veterinary Dental College for more information.

Stomatitis is a painful and chronic inflammation of the mouth, especially common in cats. It can cause ulcers, drooling, severe discomfort, and refusal to eat.

While stomatitis can be serious, many cats live comfortably with proper diagnosis and treatment, which may include extractions or immune-modulating therapies.

Dental diets can help reduce plaque and tartar buildup when used alongside brushing and dental chews. We can help you choose a vet-recommended diet based on your pet’s oral health needs.

If a baby tooth remains after the adult tooth comes in, it’s called a retained deciduous tooth. This can cause:

• Malocclusion (misalignment of teeth)
• Increased risk of periodontal disease

We recommend removal to prevent long-term issues.

Early dental disease often shows no visible signs. As it progresses, you might notice:

• Bad breath
• Red or bleeding gums
• Difficulty chewing or dropping food
• Facial swelling or pawing at the mouth
• Weight loss or reduced appetite
• Blood or pus in drool
• Whining or crying when eating

If your pet is over 3 and hasn’t had a cleaning, it’s time to schedule a dental exam.

Most of the teeth lie below the gumline, where disease often starts. X-rays allow us to evaluate:

• Roots
• Surrounding bone
• Hidden fractures
• Abscesses
• Resorptive lesions
• Retained roots
• Tooth alignment and more

Without x-rays, two-thirds of the tooth structure goes unseen, risking incomplete diagnosis and treatment.

Only in rare cases

If a tooth is loose and can be easily removed without surgery, the doctor may extract it during the first visit. However, most extractions—especially surgical ones—are scheduled for a second procedure to ensure proper planning, pain management, and patient safety.