Anesthesia-Free Teeth Cleaning (AFTC)

Our gentle, anesthesia-free teeth cleaning offers a safe, effective way to keep your pet's teeth sparkling and their gums healthy. With a calm, compassionate approach, we make dental care a positive experience for your furry friend.

*Every effort will be made to remove all of the tartar from your dog's teeth. However, they are awake and it may be impossible to remove all tartar. A non-anesthetic dental exam and cleaning is not as thorough as an anesthetic dental exam, cleaning and X-Rays, and is just one part of a complete dental plan for your dog.

How It Works

How is it done?

Laurie will begin by positioning your dog for the cleaning. Small dogs are wrapped in a towel to prevent them from struggling or hurting themselves. Large dogs are gently placed on their sides or back–whichever is more comfortable for them. Your dog’s stress levels are monitored and if it is determined they are too high, she will stop the dental procedure.

Laurie uses a sterile scaler to remove all the calculus from the teeth.* This includes the buccal, lingual, interproximal and occlusal surfaces of each tooth. Curette scalers are used to remove plaque and calculus from below the gum line. After the scaling, she polishes and rinses the teeth. She will chart her findings and relay them to you, and will refer you to your veterinarian for further evaluation/treatment if there are issues needing attention. She will also discuss when your dog should return for their next cleaning.

How effective is this method?

Some circumstances where she may not be able to remove all calculus include deep pockets, root exposure and excessive wiggling of the pet. In these cases, referral for anesthetic cleaning is given.

She does not pull teeth nor perform X-Rays. X-Rays are performed during dental cleanings under anesthesia only to assess any issues that are not visible to the naked eye. Without X-Rays, it is impossible to know what is going on under the gum line.

If gum disease or the enamel is compromised, an X-Ray will be recommended. Smaller dogs may need more frequent X-Rays due to crowding. Usually, smaller breeds and brachycephalic breeds require dental cleanings under anesthesia due to their anatomy causing significant dental disease that could be missed without X-Rays.

Do you use sterile tools?

Yes, Laurie sterilizes all of her instruments and uses a different sterile scaler on each pet.

Candidacy and Eligibility

What if my pet is not a candidate?

We can provide you with dental referral information if you do not have a conventional veterinarian who performs anesthetic dental cleanings.

Do you perform AFTCs on cats?

No, Laurie is certified for canine patients only.

Scheduling an AFTC consultatation

Prior to scheduling an AFTC, all potential patients will need to be scheduled for an oral evaluation to assess whether they are a candidate. Temperament is also evaluated to rule out behavioral concerns. If your dog is a candidate, they can be scheduled for the procedure at a future date. (Please note, cleanings are not performed at the time of the evaluation.)

Is every dog a candidate?

No. Several factors preclude patients from anesthetic-free dental cleanings.

Severe gingivitis or other signs of periodontal disease, fractured teeth, abscesses, etc.
Behavioral concerns that could prevent Laurie from safely/effectively performing the cleaning.
Usually, smaller breeds and brachycephalic breeds require dental cleanings under anesthesia due to their anatomy causing significant dental disease that would not be evident without X-Rays. These breeds can have our cleanings between the anesthetic cleanings.

Prior to scheduling an anesthetic-free dental cleaning, all potential patients will need to be scheduled for an oral evaluation to assess whether they are a candidate. Temperament is also evaluated to rule out behavioral concerns. If your dog is a candidate, they can be scheduled for the procedure at a future date. (Please note, cleanings are not performed at the time of the evaluation.)

Timing and Cost

How long does it take?

The procedure takes 30-40 minutes.

How often are AFTCs recommended?

Most dogs come in for cleanings once or twice a year. It is still recommended to have X-Rays performed regularly on your dog, especially small and brachycephalic breeds as they are more prone to infection due to crowding.

What does it cost?

The cost of the cleaning is $185 for dogs under 85 pounds, and $235 for dogs over 85 pounds. Pre-dental cleaning evaluations cost $25.00. Call our office at (248) 797-5139 to schedule a pre-dental evaluation appointment.