What Happens During Your Pet's Dental Procedure?

One of the most common questions we hear from pet owners is:

"What actually happens during my dog's or cat's dental procedure?"

The short answer? Quite a lot.

A professional dental procedure is far more than just "cleaning teeth." It's a carefully planned medical procedure performed under a general anaesthetic, involving your veterinarian and veterinary nurses working together to provide the safest possible care while treating painful dental disease.

Here's what happens from start to finish.

Before the Procedure: Pre-Anaesthetic Health Checks

Every pet receives a thorough physical examination before their procedure.

For many patients particularly older pets or those with underlying health conditions we also recommend pre-anaesthetic blood testing.

These blood tests allow us to assess how well important organs such as the liver and kidneys are functioning, check for signs of infection or anaemia, and identify any hidden issues that could influence how we tailor your pet's anaesthetic.

Think of it as an important safety check before surgery.

A Tailored General Anaesthetic

Unlike people, dogs and cats won't sit still while we clean below their gums or take dental X-rays.

That means every professional dental procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic.

Your pet receives medications to help them relax before their anaesthetic begins, followed by carefully administered anaesthetic drugs. Once asleep, a breathing tube is placed to protect their airway and deliver oxygen and anaesthetic gas throughout the procedure.

Every anaesthetic plan is tailored to your pet's age, health and individual needs.

IV Fluids for Extra Support

All dental patients receive intravenous (IV) fluids throughout their anaesthetic.

These fluids help:

• Maintain healthy blood pressure
• Support kidney function
• Improve circulation
• Keep your pet well hydrated
• Assist with a smooth recovery

IV access also allows us to administer medications immediately if they are ever required.

Continuous Nurse Monitoring

Your pet is never left alone during their anaesthetic.

One of our experienced veterinary nurses remains with your pet throughout the entire procedure, continuously monitoring vital signs including:

• Heart rate
• Breathing
• Blood oxygen levels
• Blood pressure
• Body temperature
• Depth of anaesthesia

This allows us to make adjustments immediately and ensures your pet remains safe and comfortable from beginning to end.

Dental Radiographs (X-Rays)

Did you know that around 60% of each tooth sits below the gumline, where we can't see it?

That's why dental radiographs are such an important part of modern veterinary dentistry.

Dental X-rays allow us to identify problems that would otherwise remain hidden, including:

• Tooth root infections
• Abscesses
• Bone loss
• Fractured tooth roots
• Tooth resorption (particularly common in cats)
• Retained roots

Without dental radiographs, many painful dental conditions can easily be missed.

Professional Cleaning Above and Below the Gumline

Once we've fully assessed your pet's mouth, we perform a comprehensive dental clean.

While the shiny white part of the tooth is important, the most critical work happens below the gumline, where bacteria cause periodontal disease.

Using specialised ultrasonic and hand instruments, we carefully remove plaque and tartar from both above and below the gums before polishing every tooth to create a smooth surface that helps slow future plaque build-up.

This process takes time and precision it is much more involved than simply removing visible tartar.

Treating Diseased Teeth

If we discover teeth that are infected, fractured, loose or causing pain, your veterinarian may recommend extraction.

Removing a tooth isn't simply "pulling it out."

Many teeth, especially the large chewing teeth have multiple roots and require careful surgical techniques to safely remove them while protecting surrounding bone and tissues.

Depending on the number and complexity of extractions required, this part of the procedure can significantly increase the overall time under anaesthetic.

Our goal is always to remove pain while preserving healthy teeth wherever possible.

Local Anaesthetic for Comfort

If extractions are required, we administer local anaesthetic nerve blocks to numb the area.

These work much like the injections people receive at the dentist.

Local anaesthetic provides excellent pain relief during the procedure and continues working into the early recovery period, reducing discomfort and allowing us to use lower doses of general anaesthetic and other pain medications.

Pain Relief Tailored to Your Pet

Pain management is an important part of every dental procedure.

If your pet requires extractions or treatment for significant dental disease, they will receive pain relief while in hospital and we'll send additional medication home to keep them comfortable during recovery.

Every pain relief plan is tailored to the individual patient and the procedure performed.

Antibiotics - Only When Needed

Many owners expect antibiotics after a dental, but they're not always necessary.

Professional cleaning removes the bacteria causing most dental disease, meaning antibiotics are often unnecessary.

However, if there is severe infection, extensive dental disease or specific medical reasons, your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics as part of your pet's treatment plan.

We only use antibiotics when they are genuinely needed.

Recovery and Going Home

After their procedure, your pet is carefully monitored by our nursing team as they wake from their anaesthetic.

We'll make sure they are warm, comfortable and recovering normally before they're ready to head home.

You'll receive personalised discharge instructions covering:

• Feeding
• Activity
• Pain relief
• Home care
• What to expect during recovery

A Two-Week Post-Operative Check

If your pet has had teeth removed, we'll schedule a complimentary two-week post-operative check-up.

This allows us to:

• Ensure the gums are healing well
• Check extraction sites
• Assess your pet's comfort
• Answer any questions you may have
• Discuss ongoing dental care at home

It's our chance to make sure everything has healed exactly as expected.

More Than Just a Dental Clean

When you collect your pet after a dental procedure, they've received far more than a scale and polish.

They've benefited from a carefully managed anaesthetic, continuous nurse monitoring, advanced dental imaging, professional treatment of painful disease, personalised pain management and dedicated aftercare.

Our goal isn't simply cleaner teeth, it's a healthier, happier pet that can eat comfortably and enjoy a better quality of life for years to come.

If you have any questions about your pet's dental health or would like to book a dental assessment, our team would be happy to help.

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