After anaesthetic induction, a thorough dental examination is carried out. This involves charting the teeth present and assessing their condition, including the degree of tartar, gingivitis (gum inflammation) and any pockets in the gums around the teeth.

Then we begin with removing tartar above the gum line using a special ultrasonic scaler. After the visible surface of the teeth is clean, tartar is scraped out of gum pockets by hand.

The teeth are then polished using a dental polisher and specialised fine grade paste. Finally the mouth is flushed with antibacterial solution. The dental procedure ends here if dental disease is not severe, however, if extractions are necessary due to advanced periodontal disease, these would then be performed.

When extracting teeth, the incisors are often removed first because they are small, having only one root. However, the canine and larger teeth (premolars and molars) are more complex to remove. They usually require the gum to be elevated from the bone around the tooth first. The bone is then removed by burring with a dental air drill to free the tooth.

It is often necessary to cut teeth into root segments using this air drill to allow complete removal of the tooth. The remaining bone is smoothed using another burr and the gums sutured closed over the socket. When all the dental work is complete, the animal is given an antibiotic injection, the anaesthetic gas is turned off, and your pet is allowed to wake up.

Following a professional dental clean, a home care programme is designed for you depending on the severity of your pet's dental disease. This may involve regular tooth brushing, feeding raw meaty bones and/or a special diet. One of our staff will discuss this with you in detail when your pet is discharged.

We perform a progress examination to monitor gum healing 7 days after surgery for any animal that has had extractions. We also recommend all pets be examined 6 months after dental cleaning to determine the effectiveness of your home dental care.

Are there any alternatives to tooth removal?

Newer techniques now allow us to preserve teeth at times rather than remove them. This may involve root canal work or specialised fillings for eroded teeth. Tooth capping can also be performed, but unfortunately man has not yet found materials strong enough to withstand the forces of nature, thus crowns are prone to breaking if bones or sticks are chewed. These complex dental techniques would be conducted by a specialised veterinary dentist for which we would arrange a referral on your behalf.