Dental Staging: Sometimes 2 Is Better Than 1
At Paws at Prospect Vet, we use a two-stage protocol for our dental procedures to address varying degrees of dental disease in pets. This is becoming a more common practice in veterinary medicine. But what is dental staging, and why do we do it this way?
Stage One
Stage One is for patients showing minor signs of dental disease, like gingivitis and mild tartar, that aren’t yet causing significant issues.
It’s an assessment and cleaning procedure designed to prevent dental disease from progressing.
Oral Health Examination: Assess the overall condition of the teeth, roots, gums, and mouth
Dental X-Rays: Check the health of tooth structures and root systems, revealing what’s hidden beneath the gums
Scale and Polish Teeth: Remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, including under the gum line
Decide Tooth Extractions: After assessing the condition of the teeth, any that need to be removed will be recorded
Quote for Stage Two: If required, a quote for Stage Two can be provided
Stage Two
If a patient has progressive dental disease, they’ll also require Stage Two. This procedure is performed when dental disease has advanced, leading to loose or damaged teeth that require extraction.
Stage Two is usually conducted 2-3 weeks after Stage One.
Local Anaesthetic: A numbing anaesthetic will be applied around the teeth that are being extracted to reduce pain on recovery
Extraction: The teeth are removed
Suturing: If required, the gums will be sutured closed with dissolvable sutures
Veterinary Dental Advancements
Veterinary dental medicine has advanced significantly in recent years. In the past, dental procedures were much simpler, using only hand-held scalers and cutting wire to remove teeth. We didn’t have human-grade dental machines, dental X-rays, sutures for the gums, or even local anaesthetics.
The comprehensive two-stage dental approach we use today wasn’t necessary because procedures were less involved and took much less time.
Patient Safety
We also have a much better understanding of anaesthetic safety today. We find that two shorter anaesthetic procedures are generally safer than one prolonged procedure. When both Stage One and Stage Two are performed at the same time, anaesthetic times can become very lengthy, sometimes lasting several hours.
Shorter procedures allow for safer, smoother and quicker recoveries for your pet.
Accurate Planning and Cost Estimates
It’s challenging to accurately estimate the cost of dental extractions while a pet is awake. Our Stage One procedure allows us to do a complete oral health assessment using dental X-rays, probing of the gum lines, and a detailed examination of the entire mouth.
This assessment helps us create a precise, tailored plan for Stage Two and a more accurate cost estimate with no surprises.
Same Price
To help compensate for the cost of two separate procedures, we offer a reduced anaesthetic fee for Stage Two dentals.
This means the overall cost is comparable to what a single, longer procedure may have cost, while still prioritising your pet’s safety and wellbeing.
Learn More About Dental Health
To learn more about dental health, including veterinary dental procedures, visit our blog posts:
Cats: The Purr-fect Grin: A Guide To Your Cat’s Dental Health