Professional Teeth Cleaning

Professional Dental Cleaning for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Regular dental care is an important part of keeping your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel healthy and comfortable. Brushing your Cavalier's teeth at home is one of the best ways to help control plaque, but home dental care cannot remove established tartar or treat advanced periodontal disease.

When plaque hardens into calculus (tartar), professional veterinary dental treatment may be required. A professional dental procedure allows your veterinarian to thoroughly examine your Cavalier's mouth, clean the teeth and assess the tissues beneath the gum line.

This is particularly important for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels because the breed can be at increased risk of periodontal disease. Research involving dogs in primary veterinary care found Cavalier King Charles Spaniels had significantly increased odds of periodontal disease compared with crossbred dogs.

What Is Professional Teeth Cleaning?

Professional teeth cleaning is a veterinary procedure designed to remove accumulated plaque and calculus and assess the overall health of your dog's mouth. Unlike simply cleaning the visible surface of the teeth, a comprehensive veterinary dental procedure allows the veterinarian to examine the areas above and below the gum line.

Depending on your Cavalier's individual needs, professional dental treatment may involve:

  • Examination of the mouth

  • Dental charting

  • Periodontal probing

  • Removal of plaque and calculus

  • Cleaning beneath the gum line

  • Dental radiographs

  • Polishing

  • Treatment of diseased teeth

  • Tooth extraction where necessary

  • Development of a home dental-care plan

The Australian Veterinary Association recommends comprehensive oral examination and states that dental radiography is highly recommended as part of veterinary dental treatment.

Why Can't Tartar Simply Be Brushed Away?

Plaque is a soft bacterial film that can be removed through regular brushing.If plaque remains on the teeth, it can mineralise and become calculus, commonly known as tartar.Once tartar has hardened, brushing cannot remove it.

Professional scaling is required to remove established calculus effectively.More importantly, periodontal disease can develop beneath the gum line where owners cannot see it.A tooth can look relatively clean above the gum line while disease is already affecting the tissues underneath.This is one of the reasons professional veterinary dental examinations are important.

Does My Cavalier Need a Professional Dental Clean?

Not every Cavalier will need professional dental treatment at the same frequency.Your veterinarian will assess your dog's individual oral health and determine whether treatment is appropriate.Professional dental treatment may be recommended if your Cavalier has:Significant tartarRed or inflamed gumsBleeding gumsPeriodontal diseaseLoose teethBroken teethMissing teethPersistent bad breathPain when eatingDifficulty chewingFacial swellingOther abnormalities within the mouthYour Cavalier's age, health, previous dental history and home-care routine will also influence veterinary recommendations.

Why Cavaliers Deserve Particular Attention

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a small breed and are particularly susceptible to periodontal disease.A large VetCompass study of dogs attending UK primary-care veterinary practices found that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels had increased odds of periodontal disease, while the risk of periodontal disease also increased with age.

This makes regular dental care especially important for Cavaliers.It doesn't mean that every Cavalier will develop severe dental disease.It means that preventative dental care deserves to be taken seriously.

What Happens During a Professional Dental Procedure?

A proper veterinary dental procedure is much more comprehensive than simply removing visible tartar.

1. Pre-anaesthetic assessment

Your veterinarian will assess your Cavalier's health before anaesthesia.Depending on your dog's age and health, this may include a physical examination and potentially blood tests or other investigations.Your veterinarian will discuss what is appropriate for your individual dog.

2. Anaesthesia

A comprehensive dental examination and cleaning generally requires general anaesthesia.This allows the veterinary team to safely examine the entire mouth, clean beneath the gum line and perform dental radiographs and treatment where necessary.The Australian Veterinary Association states that complete dental examination and treatment require appropriate anaesthesia.

Anaesthesia also prevents the dog from experiencing the procedure while allowing the veterinary team to work safely and thoroughly.

3. Dental examination

Once your Cavalier is anaesthetised, the veterinarian can examine the mouth carefully.They may assess:Each toothThe gumsPeriodontal pocketsTooth mobilityFractured teethMissing teethAbnormal teethAreas of infectionDental charting can be used to document findings.

4. Dental radiographs

Dental X-rays can reveal problems that cannot be seen simply by looking at the teeth.Radiographs can help identify:

  • Bone loss

  • Problems below the gum line

  • Damaged tooth roots

  • Tooth resorption

  • Retained roots

  • Other abnormalities

The Australian Veterinary Association highly recommends intraoral dental radiography as part of veterinary dental treatment.

5. Scaling

Specialised veterinary dental equipment is used to remove plaque and calculus from the teeth.The teeth are cleaned both above and below the gum line where appropriate.

6. Polishing

After scaling, the teeth are polished.Polishing helps smooth microscopic irregularities created during scaling, making the tooth surface less favourable for plaque accumulation.

7. Treatment or extraction of diseased teeth

If a tooth is severely damaged or affected by advanced periodontal disease, your veterinarian may recommend extraction.While losing a diseased tooth may sound alarming, removing a painful or unhealthy tooth can significantly improve a dog's comfort and oral health.Your veterinarian will discuss any recommended extractions with you.

Why ‘Anaesthesia-Free’ Teeth Cleaning Is Different

You may see businesses advertising anaesthesia-free dental cleaning.

It is important to understand that this is not equivalent to a comprehensive veterinary dental procedure.

Without appropriate anaesthesia, it is generally not possible to safely:

  • Examine every part of the mouth

  • Thoroughly clean beneath the gum line

  • Perform periodontal probing

  • Obtain dental radiographs

  • Properly assess tooth roots

  • Treat painful dental disease

  • Perform necessary extractions

The Australian Veterinary Association specifically states that complete dental examination and treatment require appropriate anaesthesia. (ava.com.au)

Simply removing visible tartar can make teeth look cleaner without addressing disease beneath the gum line.

A cosmetic improvement is not the same as treating dental disease.

Is Anaesthesia Safe for Cavaliers?

This is an understandable concern for Cavalier owners.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a recognised predisposition to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), so heart health is particularly relevant when anaesthesia is being considered.

However, the presence of a heart murmur does not automatically mean that dental treatment cannot be performed.

Instead, your veterinarian should assess your Cavalier's individual health and determine the safest approach.

Depending on the severity of any heart disease, your veterinarian may recommend additional investigations or referral to a veterinary cardiologist before anaesthesia.

The ACVIM consensus statement identifies Cavalier King Charles Spaniels as a breed predisposed to myxomatous mitral valve disease and provides guidance for veterinary assessment and management.

Always tell your veterinarian if your Cavalier has:

☐ A heart murmur

☐ Diagnosed mitral valve disease

☐ Previous anaesthetic complications

☐ Kidney or liver disease

☐ Other significant health conditions

☐ Current medications

Your veterinarian can then determine whether additional assessment is appropriate before the procedure.

What About Older Cavaliers?

Age alone does not necessarily mean a Cavalier cannot undergo a dental procedure.

Older dogs may, however, have a greater likelihood of:

  • Periodontal disease

  • Heart disease

  • Kidney disease

  • Liver disease

  • Other age-related conditions

This is why a thorough pre-anaesthetic assessment becomes particularly important as your Cavalier gets older.

Your veterinarian can assess the potential benefits and risks and recommend an appropriate approach.

How Often Does My Cavalier Need a Dental Clean?

There is no single schedule that applies to every Cavalier.

The appropriate frequency depends on factors including:

  • Age

  • Breed

  • Individual susceptibility

  • Existing periodontal disease

  • Tooth alignment

  • Home dental care

  • Diet

  • Previous dental treatment

  • Overall health

Your veterinarian should assess your Cavalier's mouth regularly and recommend when professional treatment is required.

Don't wait for bad breath or obvious pain before seeking advice.

Signs Your Cavalier May Need a Dental Examination

Contact your veterinarian if you notice:

☐ Persistent bad breath

☐ Heavy tartar

☐ Red or swollen gums

☐ Bleeding gums

☐ Loose teeth

☐ Broken teeth

☐ Difficulty chewing

☐ Dropping food

☐ Reduced appetite

☐ Pawing at the mouth

☐ Facial swelling

☐ Changes in behaviour

☐ Signs of mouth pain

Dogs can continue eating despite significant dental disease, so the absence of obvious difficulty eating does not necessarily mean your Cavalier's mouth is healthy.

Your Cavalier's Professional Dental Care Checklist

Before the procedure

☐ Veterinary dental examination

☐ Discuss your Cavalier's dental history

☐ Tell your veterinarian about any medications

☐ Tell your veterinarian about any diagnosed health conditions

☐ Discuss heart health and any heart murmur

☐ Discuss pre-anaesthetic testing

☐ Ask whether dental radiographs are recommended

During the procedure

☐ Comprehensive oral examination

☐ Dental charting where appropriate

☐ Periodontal assessment

☐ Dental radiographs where indicated

☐ Scaling

☐ Cleaning beneath the gum line

☐ Polishing

☐ Treatment of diseased teeth where necessary

After the procedure

☐ Follow your veterinarian's post-operative instructions

☐ Administer prescribed medication if required

☐ Follow dietary instructions

☐ Allow the mouth to heal

☐ Establish a daily dental-care routine

☐ Continue regular veterinary dental examinations

Prevention Is Better Than Treatment

The best time to think about professional dental cleaning is before your Cavalier develops significant dental disease.

  • Start dental care early.

  • Brush your Cavalier's teeth regularly.

  • Have their mouth checked during veterinary examinations.

  • And seek veterinary advice when you notice changes.

  • For Cavaliers, good dental care is not simply about keeping their teeth white.

It is about helping them remain comfortable, healthy and happy throughout their lives.

A Healthy Mouth Means a Happier Cavalier

Your Cavalier may never understand why you are brushing their teeth or taking them to the veterinarian for a dental examination. But they will understand the benefits of having a comfortable mouth.

Regular home dental care, veterinary examinations and professional treatment when required can all play an important role in maintaining your Cavalier's oral health. And when professional dental treatment is recommended, remember that the goal isn't simply to make your Cavalier's teeth look cleaner. The goal is a healthier, more comfortable mouth.

Disclaimer

The information provided in the Cavalier Knowledge Centre is intended for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment.