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Anesthesia-free dentistry offers no medical benefit for dogs
New Study in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association®
Anesthesia-free dentistry offers no medical benefit for dogs
Veterinarians—and especially veterinary dentists—have long known that anesthesia-free dentistry does not provide true medical benefit. In fact, many specialty boards and national and international veterinary associations have formal position statements opposing its use. Despite this, it remains a common procedure worldwide.
This new article is the first to definitively demonstrate that anesthesia-free dentistry does not improve the oral health of our patients. Its findings were considered by the Nevada Veterinary Medical Board in their decision to strengthen regulations against the procedure.
Anesthesia-free dentistry does not provide any demonstrable medical benefit for the control of periodontal disease in dogs
Authors
DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, Katherine B. Kangas DVM, and DVM, DAVDC
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Issue: 29 Oct 2025
Abstract
Objective
To determine the effectiveness of anesthesia-free dentistry (AFD) versus anesthetic dentistry for treatment of periodontal disease in dogs.
Methods
This prospective study was conducted between April 16, 2014, and October 21, 2014. Client-owned dogs were assigned an initial periodontal diagnostic test strip (PDTS) score (from 0 [white] to 5 [dark yellow]) during conscious oral examination using commercially available rapid test strips to assess salivary concentration of thiols (OraStripdx; PDX Biotech LLC). Eligible dogs included those with PDTS score ≥ 3 and no previous dental cleaning (control group) and those with any PDTS score and a history of AFD in the previous 6 weeks. Because of this timeframe, the initial PDTS scores for the experimental group also served as a post-AFD PDTS score. All dogs in the control group and 14 of 23 dogs in the experimental group underwent anesthetized dental procedures. Periodontal disease was assessed under anesthesia, and PDTS scores were reassessed at recheck examination. Results were compared between groups.
Results
46 dogs were included, 23 in each group. Mean PDTS score was significantly lower at recheck examination after anesthetic dentistry for both groups. Mean initial PDTS score did not differ significantly between groups; however, the mean PDTS score at recheck examination was significantly lower for dogs after an anesthetized dental procedure (0.087; range, 0 to 1) versus AFD (4.35; range, 3 to 5).
Conclusions
No medical benefit was provided by AFD.
Clinical Relevance
AFD is not a viable alternative to an anesthetized dental procedure for periodontal disease mitigation.