Conscious Sedation Dentistry (CSD)

Meridian Animal Hospital would like you to compare this dental procedure to your own routine teeth cleaning at your dentist. We feel this procedure is a safe way to maintain oral health for dogs and cats and it is inexpensive. Good dental hygiene is very important to your pets’ long-term health.

General Discussion:
In order to perform any oral treatment thoroughly, your pet would need to sit perfectly still during the entire procedure. That is really not possible on most fully awake dogs and cats. If they suddenly move while their teeth are being scaled, damage can be done to their gums and their lack of cooperation can result in treatments that are inadequate or incomplete. Conscious Sedation Dentistry allows you to have routine oral treatments for your pets before anesthesia is required to do more aggressive and expensive treatments.

Compare to more involved dental procedures:
Conscious Sedation Dentistry requires no general anesthesia, no tracheal intubation and has quicker recovery at less expense. Painful extractions and more involved treatments require general anesthesia. If a need for more extensive treatment is discovered during your pet’s CSD, the additional treatments will be discussed and performed immediately if authorized or be scheduled at a later date convenient for you.

Procedure:
• Your pet will be given a dental exam during an appointment and we will give you the recommendation for a CSD.
• Your pet will stay with us at Meridian Animal Hospital on the day the CSD is scheduled and it is occasionally possible to do this the same day of the dental exam.
• A complete physical exam is performed prior to the CSD procedure.
• Pets are sedated to a level allowing preventive oral treatments.
• Antibiotics are given during the procedure and fluids are given under your pet’s skin to keep them hydrated.
• Oral treatments include:

Tartar Scaling Tooth Polishing
Sub gingival Curetting Fluoride Treatment

Pre-sedation Lab Work:
Pre-sedation lab testing is always recommended, but not required for most pets. Routine blood testing is a great idea to insure organ function is good prior to sedation.

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