A recent trend is resurfacing within the field of small animal veterinary dentistry, involving untrained and unregulated individuals who promote “Anesthesia-free” or “non-anesthetic” dentistry. These practitioners are taking advantage of pet owners’ anxieties regarding anesthesia and their financial constraints to conduct dental procedures on conscious animals.
Although this concept may initially appear attractive as a cost-saving alternative and a means to avoid anesthesia, it is essential to recognize that, much like dental diseases, the visible aspects are merely superficial, concealing more serious issues beneath. In reality, such procedures can be not only ineffective and potentially more costly in the long run but also detrimental to the pet’s well-being.
Clients may seek a more affordable, anesthesia-free option for dental cleanings, possibly influenced by recommendations from acquaintances, groomers, or non-professionals. While it may be challenging to change the minds of every owner regarding the safety and efficacy of anesthesia-free dentistry, several reasons articulated by the American Veterinary Dental College underscore the dangers associated with anesthesia-free dental practices. To begin with, a comprehensive dental cleaning encompasses multiple steps. Essential components of a thorough dental intervention include supragingival and subgingival scaling, dental polishing, oral examination and dental charting, with intraoral radiographs being an ideal addition. Notably, only the initial step, supragingival scaling, can be undertaken on an awake patient. Even so, it is inherently impossible to achieve cleaning of every tooth surface thoroughly, particularly the lingual and palatal aspects, as well as the most distant molars. Furthermore, this limited cleaning approach does not suffice; polishing the visible parts of the teeth serves only an aesthetic purpose, providing no tangible medical advantage whatsoever.
The actual medical benefit of a dental cleaning is the subgingival plaque and calculus removal. This is where the periodontal disease happens. There are many reports of patients who have had their teeth “cleaned” by an anesthesia-free practitioner regularly for years, only to find out that the periodontal disease has been progressing unbeknownst to the owner. When the animal finally receives an anesthetized evaluation, it often has to have extensive extractions due to end stage periodontal disease.
