Professional dental cleanings
How and why dental cleanings can help oral health. Why cleanings count
Why does my dog need anesthesia for a dental cleaning?
Dogs and cats aren’t quite as good as people at keeping their mouths open for dental cleanings, and their teeth are way sharper. Anesthesia helps us safely examine and clean their entire mouth. Watch our video on professional dental cleanings
Is a dental cleaning under anesthesia safe for my dog?
Our industry-leading anesthetic protocols have been developed with veterinary anesthetic specialists. We prioritize keeping your pet safe and comfortable throughout their dental cleaning, just like we do all other procedures under anesthesia. See our video on anesthesia
Do I really need to brush my dog’s teeth?
Ideally, yes! Good home dental care helps support all the benefits of a full professional dental cleaning, just like it does for people before and after they see the dentist. How to brush your pet’s teeth
Why would there be extra costs for my pet’s dental cleaning?
Although we can tell quite a bit from your awake pet’s mouth, we can’t take a full look until your pet is under anesthesia. That’s when we can take radiographs, examine under the gumline, check the back of their mouth, and explore all the little nooks and crannies where disease might hide.
If we do find evidence of additional dental needs (and costs), we’ll always reach out to discuss what next steps we recommend. It’s really important to keep your phone handy during your pet’s procedure because it’s often simpler (and less expensive) to address these dental issues while your pet is already under anesthesia instead of needing to make a new surgical appointment.
What is the best thing for dog dental hygiene?
The best prevention of dental disease is a combination of regular tooth brushing paired with annual professional cleanings.
What foods damage dog teeth?
The following can be too hard for a dog’s teeth and cause teeth to break: animal bones, rawhide, and ice cubes.
Worried about your pet? Ping Pet Chat™!
Whether it's 3 a.m. or 3 p.m., connect with a real veterinary professional for immediate petcare advice. It's included in all Optimum Wellness Plans®!
Log in to start chattingSave at the Banfield Shop
Our mission is to provide high-quality prescription meds for the pet you love. We believe in safe, effective petcare, so we thoroughly assess every item we carry. We offer discounts on eligible products with your pet’s Optimum Wellness Plan. And you can easily schedule deliveries with our super convenient AutoShip program.
More about dog health