Everything You Wanted to Ask About Pet Dentals
written by Jessica Titchenal DVM
Dental care is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — parts of preventative medicine for dogs and cats. Veterinary dentistry goes far beyond clean teeth or fresh breath. It plays a key role in comfort, pain prevention, aging, and even systemic health.
Below are some of the most common questions pet parents ask about veterinary dental cleanings (“dentals”) and why your veterinarian may recommend them.
Q: Do pets really get dental disease that often?
Yes. Dental disease (specifically periodontal disease) is one of the most common diseases seen in adult dogs and cats. Research estimates that over 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of periodontal disease by age 3 (Merck Veterinary Manual; Enlund et al., 2022).
Because pets often hide discomfort, dental disease can progress quietly for months or years before owners notice visible symptoms.
Q: Why is anesthesia required for a dental cleaning?
Professional veterinary dentistry requires anesthesia to:
✔ clean above and below the gumline
✔ take full-mouth dental radiographs
✔ probe periodontal pockets
✔ assess mobility and bone loss
✔ perform extractions if needed
✔ keep pets safe and pain-free
Sedation-free dentals cannot diagnose or treat periodontal disease, because most pathology occurs under the gumline, not on the visible tooth surface (AVDC Position Statement on Anesthesia-Free Dentistry).
Q: What actually happens during a veterinary dental procedure?
At Cheney Veterinary Clinic, our gold-standard dental care happens in two parts:
Part 1: Pre-Op Dental Exam
Before every dental procedure, your veterinarian performs a comprehensive physical exam and reviews your pet’s medical history. Based on age, breed, and overall health, we may recommend pre-anesthetic diagnostics such as bloodwork, ECG, or other screening tests to ensure your pet can safely undergo anesthesia. Pre-anesthetic diagnostics are considered part of modern standards of care for veterinary dentistry (AAHA Dental Care Guidelines).
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a non-invasive test that records the heart’s electrical activity. It allows us to assess how fast the heart is beating and whether the rhythm is steady or irregular. It’s painless and provides valuable information about cardiac function — especially before anesthesia or if there are concerns about heart disease.
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork/urinalysis helps confirm that your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia. It can uncover hidden issues with organs such as the liver or kidneys, or changes in blood sugar or cell counts, that might not be evident on physical exam alone.
Bloodwork allows us to:
✓ Confirm that anesthesia is appropriate
✓ Choose the safest drug protocol
✓ Adjust IV fluids if needed
✓ Reduce anesthetic complications
✓ Postpone a procedure if unexpected findings arise
We recommend that the Pre-Op Dental Exam take place on a different day from the procedure. This gives us time to review diagnostics, make individualized anesthesia plans, and take all necessary precautions. However, we understand that schedules can be busy, and if both the exam and procedure are scheduled for the same day, we ask for flexibility — as treatment plans may change based on what we find during the evaluation.
Part 2: Dental Procedure Day
On the day of the dental, your pet receives general anesthesia, which keeps them comfortable and allows us to thoroughly evaluate and treat disease under the gumline. While anesthetized, we perform:
✔ Full-mouth dental radiographs
✔ Scaling (above and below the gumline)
✔ Polishing and irrigation
✔ Charting and periodontal probing
✔ Treatment planning (including extractions if indicated)
✔ Pain control + take-home instructions
These steps reflect the standard of care in veterinary dentistry, as recommended by the AAHA Dental Care Guidelines.
Q: Is periodontal disease painful for pets? Even if they’re still eating?
Absolutely. Animals are very good at masking oral pain. Many pets with significant periodontal disease will continue to eat, even with:
✔ loose teeth
✔ root exposure
✔ bone loss
✔ abscesses
Orofacial pain often becomes more obvious after dental treatment when pets become more active, playful, or interested in food again — especially in cats, who are notorious for hiding discomfort.
Q: Can dental disease affect organs beyond the mouth?
Yes. Periodontal disease is an infectious and inflammatory process. Oral bacteria and inflammatory mediators can enter the bloodstream and contribute to systemic disease. Studies in dogs have found associations between periodontal disease and cardiac conditions, including valvular disease and endocarditis (Glickman et al., 2009; Dos Santos et al., 2019).
Systemic inflammation also has implications for kidney and liver function, especially in senior pets (AAHA Senior Care Guidelines).
Q: My pet’s teeth look fine. Why is a dental recommended?
Most dental pathology occurs below the gumline and cannot be seen during a conscious oral exam. Radiographs commonly reveal:
✔ bone loss
✔ resorptive lesions (especially in cats)
✔ abscessed roots
✔ fractured teeth
✔ retained roots
✔ pocketing and mobility
Dental radiography is considered medically necessary for accurate diagnosis (AAHA Dental Guidelines).
Q: How often do dogs and cats need dental cleanings?
Frequency depends on:
✔ breed (small breeds + brachycephalics need earlier intervention)
✔ age
✔ home care
✔ individual anatomy
✔ previous dental history
✔ systemic health
Your veterinarian may recommend annual evaluations, with cleanings more frequently for high-risk breeds like Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Dachshunds, Bulldogs, and cats prone to resorptive lesions.
Q: Do extractions affect quality of life?
In most cases, quality of life improves dramatically after extractions. Painful teeth do not contribute meaningfully to chewing efficiency, and pets adapt well to eating post-extraction. Owners frequently report increased activity, appetite, grooming (in cats), and social behavior afterward (AVDC owner reports).
Q: What can I do at home to support dental health?
The gold standard of prevention is brushing, followed by VOHC-approved products:
✔ dental chews
✔ dental diets
✔ oral gels or rinses
✔ water additives
Look for the VOHC seal, indicating the product has demonstrated efficacy against plaque or calculus (VOHC Accepted Product List).
Final Thoughts
Dental care is preventative medicine. Addressing periodontal disease early supports comfort, aging, and systemic wellness in both dogs and cats. If you’re unsure whether your pet may benefit from a dental evaluation, we’re always happy to help.
Cheney Veterinary Clinic offers an annual Dental Month promotion during January and February, featuring 15% off routine dental cleanings. This discount applies to the full dental package, including anesthesia, IV fluids, the dental procedure, and full-mouth radiographs.
Speak with our team to determine whether your pet is an appropriate candidate for dental cleaning this season. Spots tend to fill quickly during these months, so early scheduling is recommended.
☎️ Call or text (509) 235-6860 to book your pet’s dental appointment!
