Every day in all corners of the Earth, there are people who think that they are doing the right thing in clicking the brown hard tartar off the teeth of dogs and cats (and other animals). They dress it up and pretend it is the same as the dental procedure a pet would get under anaesthetic.
Most of these are people with a veterinary degree, whether from our own country or overseas. I would like to say that they have no qualifications, but sometimes they have some. Some are registered to work as veterinarians within Australia, but most aren't.
All of us would make an assumption that these people are always going to be animal lovers, and would never do anything that would hurt animals. It would be horrible to think that they knowingly hurting our animals. The fact that they are, in many cases, unknowingly contributing to long term pain, is painful for me as an animal lover to realise.
Those who perform dental procedures without an anaesthetic, as far as I can see through their literature, comments and (short) conversation that I have had with one of them, genuinely believe they are doing the animal world, but especially, their pet owners a favour.
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| Listen to both sides of the argument |
They always argue that they are using the same equipment as dentists with ultrasonic scalers, and polishing tips. They say that the pets they treat do not suffer any anxiety during the procedure. They show before and after photos - first you see dirty teeth, and then there are pearly whites. (they are missing what is the crucial core of real dentistry - to treat underlying disease, remove source of pain in the mouth, get the mouth healthy again - i.e a pain free mouth).
They advertise that they are a service for pet owners, by not subjecting their pets to an anaesthetic to clean their pet's teeth. Their claim that they are saving pet owners money in doing so. They say that they are providing an amazing, wanted service. It is in high demand, according to them. They do not understand why more vets are not on board of this, and they claim that those who do not support what they do, are just good old fashioned money hungry.
I totally understand the fear of anaesthetic. I personally have had two very bad anaesthetics in my life (one in which I remembered being intubated and not being able to breath). I get that it is scary, as I am dreading my next anaesthetic, but this does not mean I am scared to anesthetise my own pets for dental procedures or the pets that come under my care.
It does mean that I take every available step to ensure that their anesthetic is as smooth and comfortable as I can make it for them. Knowing how full the room is with every anaesthetic lecture I attend is, I am not alone in this aspirational desire for best practice.
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| Multiparameter monitor, part of our "Best Practice" for many anaesthetics. (this is demo mode, not a real patient) |
It isn't about helping people save money ( you want to save money, don't have a pet, get a stuffed toy), it isn't about doing something that a pet owner wants us to do because the pet owner wants it done (remember tail docking? declawing? ear cropping?).
As vets, we need to stand up to what we know to be the right thing to do... the welfare of our animals is at stake here. As pet owners, we need to do the same thing.
We need to do the RIGHT thing. The absolute, black and white, right thing! This is not a grey zone area.
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| Do the RIGHT thing! An apple a day..... |
But yes, performing a thorough dental assessment, radiographs of the mouth, developing a treatment plan, discussing this with pet owners, and then continuing on with that plan, is potentially going to cost more money than if you are just doing a cosmetic job of clicking brown stuff of the teeth.
What we can't compare is the treatment of disease, as I seem to find alot once I have performed a thorough oral examination, and they seem to find nothing but brown stuff on teeth.
Who is right in this situation?
I don't go in and colour in black areas around tooth roots on radiographs to make them look like bone loss. These are real problems, that need genuine caring vets to deal with.
Dealing with dental disease costs money. Preventing disease costs alot less. If you ignore the fact that dental disease is UNDER the gum, then you need to rethink what you believe.
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| Dental radiographs being reviewed, the hidden abscess is seen. |
My dental equipment includes a periodontal probe to go under the gum margin to look for pockets, my eyes to inspect each and every tooth, use of radiographs to assess underneath the gum to look for signs of abscessing, with my ongoing quest for knowledge on how to best manage dental disease in our pets.
The core of what we should be doing as any human being who cares for animals is to first do them no harm.
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| Piper getting her teeth cleaned. |
Of course, if all that veterinarians are doing when they perform their "dental" is cracking tartar off the teeth, then yes, they are no different to the anaesthesia free mob, with the only difference being the anaesthetic. Many vets have gone beyond that basic dental service, and are now understanding the importance of a thorough dental examination, dental charting, dental radiographs, developing of a dental treatment plan, discussing this with the owner, and then proceeding with the agreed dental plan.
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| An example of one of our dental charts - every pet gets one! |
I only ask, as an animal lover, that if you ever subject your pet to Anesthesia Free Dentistry, that at least once you then allow your pet to have a thorough dental examination incorporating all of the above features for comparison.
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| The unerupted tooth causing a bone cyst. |
Let me tell you about a dog called Honey, who moved to Australia from Hawaii. This was many many years ago, Honey is no longer with us except in our memories, but she was beautiful and loved.
Honey was so loved, she was groomed each 6 weeks, had her own personal dog walker, and then each 6 months had Anaesthesia free dentistry at her groomers. This was when she was in Hawaii.
Now that she was in Australia, it was time again to have her teeth looked at, but this time, it was with me. It was under anaesthetic, and the degree of hidden disease under the gum astounded me (and upset her owner). She was upset to know that her dog must've been suffering with not just one dental abscess, but with 3, all seen on radiographs only. Probing or visual examination would not have picked them up.
I know that I am not going to convince those who genuinely believe that they are doing the right thing in subjecting their pet to scaling of the teeth without an anaesthetic. I hope I can convince you that at some stage in your pet's life that you give them the genuine love to allow a vet who is familiar with dental radiographs, charting, and the thorough oral examination to also have a chance to examine your pet's mouth a bit more thoroughly and deeply.
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| The fractured tooth, but the tooth behind was abscessed. |
Our pets do not complain about their dental pain... be the person your pet thinks you are and look after them.
If you want to know more about the Australian Veterinary Associations position on Anaesthesia Free Dentistry, click here.
Where? I am the vet from Russell Vale Animal Clinic, on Bellambi Lane in Russell Vale, in the beautiful northern suburbs of the Illawarra.
Dental checks are available all year round with us, but August is the traditional month to flip the lip.
