Dentals

A dental is a procedure performed under a general anaesthetic in cats and dogs if recommended by a vet. It involves a scale and polish and extractions if required.
We have four grading systems for dentals at Kings Road Vets (Grade 1-4) from Grade 1 requiring only a scale and polish to Grade 4 requiring multiple extractions.

Your dog/cat will need to be checked over by a vet before to ensure they are well enough for the procedure and which graded dental they think your pet will need.
They will need to have been starved overnight and be up to date with worming cover.
They will be in for the day with us (dropped off between 8:30-9am) and go home the same day providing there are no complications.
An anaesthetic drug will be given via a catheter in their front leg. A tube will be placed down the windpipe to deliver oxygen and anaesthetic gas and a gag will be placed in the back of the mouth to prevent water being inhaled. The teeth will all be scaled and polished using an ultrasonic scaler to remove any tartar and plaque. The vet will then assess each tooth for disease and remove any teeth that require extraction. The gum is then sutured together where possible or appropriate. Sometimes more/less teeth may need removing than initially expected.

There are many advantages to having a dental for your pet:

Anaesthetic risks – as with any anaesthetic there is a degree of risk associated. If your pet is otherwise healthy this risk is very small. However, it is possible to develop hypotension (low blood pressure) in the procedure, have an adverse reaction to the medication used, regurgitate under the anaesthetic which can lead to oesophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus) aspiration pneumonia (food or liquid breathed into the airways) and even death.
Procedure risks – whilst a very common procedure, there are some risks associated with a dental. This includes aspiration of water, tooth fracture, jaw fracture, bleeding, inability to remove the entire tooth and nerve damage.
Post op risks – Risks include infection in the mouth, suture breakdown, dry socket formation (where a blood clot fails to develop in the tooth socket) and bleeding.

The recovery period after the procedure depends on the grade of the dental. A nurse or vet will see your pet in 3-5 days and 10-14 days after the procedure to check that the wound is healing well if extractions were performed.
In this time their normal activity may need to be restricted.
Brushing your pets teeth is the best way to prevent the need for a future dental. Use only pet toothpaste and introduce the brushing slowly. A dental care appointment with a nurse/vet can be booked to demonstrate how to do this.