3. Prophylactic Dentistry:

–Hospitalization: pets are admitted to the hospital off food for at least 8 hours. Don’t remove the water.

–Anesthesia: pets are given a general anesthesia with IV fluid and pain medication in case they need an extraction performed. Animals are closely monitored by a registered veterinary technician, a respiratory monitor, a blood pressure and a heart rate monitor.

–U/S descaling: Using a piezoelectric ultrasonic descaler the tartar is removed from all aspects of the teeth, with special care to clean out all under the gum or sub-gingival areas. The mouth is rinsed of all debris.

–Dental Charting: Once scaled the technician inspects all pockets around the teeth to measure the periodontal pocket depth and she will look for any dental lesions.  She charts all abnormalities on a dental chart.

–Veterinarian Inspection: the veterinarian inspects the dental chart, and has a second look at the oral cavity and teeth surfaces to make sure all tartar has been removed, and no dental lesions have been overlooked.

–Extra Procedures: the veterinarian will contact the owner if permission has not already been given, before proceeding with any dental extractions, gum therapy or mass removal (e.g. benign epulis).

–Dental Polishing: the technician then proceeds by polishing all dental surfaces.

For more information click on Veterinary Oral Health council