Dental Cleanings For Pets 

Hi there. Not really sure what part you are referring to as there is not a second person holding a mouth open for the team member working on this patient. Perhaps you are referring to the moment they intubate the patient and both doctor and technician work together to ensure this is done quickly to begin oxygen supplementation. Dental procedures are best done when there is a technician trained in dentistry and anesthesia performing the cleaning while the doctor monitors the patient. If extractions are needed, the technician prepares a dental surgery kit and then will monitor the patient every second while the doctor performs the procedure. The technician cleaning will often hold a lip up to ensure they can clean safely without injuring the patient. There is no other safe way to scale a patients teeth. You cannot put an instrument in their mouth blind. There should always be a medical staff member standing and monitoring anesthesia, making necessary adjustments, and recording stats in the medical record (which are the iPads the team is holding in the video.). We NEVER have a technician leave a procedure to perform other tasks. We have a full ICU and medical surgery ward of technicians, assistants, and doctors, who perform treatments on other patients in the hospital, and fill and gather discharge items for surgical and dental patients going home the same day. Our anesthesiologist can be seen popping in and out of all surgeries and is a quick page away if there are any emergencies.

Ethos Veterinary Health thank you!!! Yes, I understand for the ET tube but actually this tech can actually intubate the patient by herself unless the dog has a large head then she will have a tech assist. we also have medical charts that the technician marks herself during the dental surgery. Our doctor does not do any of the dental cleaning or extractions. He just looks at blood work and exams the patient before the surgery. He does not monitor the surgery either because our technician doesn’t like him to stand over her and watch. But she will have this kennel tech with no experience of any kind stand over hold the lip for her or hold the mouth open for her while she pulls teeth or does sutures for the entire procedure? I’m just wondering if that’s necessary to have that second person with no experience in monitoring or dental surgeries. Or can that second person be used to do other things or does that RVT preforming the dental need her there the entire time?

It is something we would not do at our hospitals. I can say that. A doctor should be in charge of the case. If anything happens to that pet, it is on the doctor and not technician. With proper training a technician can hold up a pets lip on their own while they clean. Intubation is always best with the doctor keeping the pet stable and straight. This way the technician can clearly visualize where the tube is being placed. Dental procedures are a surgery. Because of this a doctor should be present at all times.

Ethos Veterinary Health Thank you so much for the quick responses. I have worked in this field for over 5 years and have never experienced this before. These are some problems I hope get fixed.

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