A thorough approach to dental care for cats and dogs.
At Capital Veterinary Hospital, we may recommend completing your pet’s dental treatment in stages.
The first procedure allows our veterinary team to thoroughly examine, X-ray and clean your pet’s teeth. If we identify teeth that require extraction or further treatment, we can then plan a second procedure based on those findings.
This staged approach gives us the information needed to properly assess your pet’s mouth and discuss the recommended treatment with you before proceeding with more invasive dental work.
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What is a staged dental procedure?
A staged dental procedure divides your pet’s dental treatment into two separate phases when further treatment is required.
Stage 1 focuses on examining and cleaning the teeth and identifying dental disease.
If the assessment shows that extractions or more invasive treatment are required, Stage 2 is scheduled separately.
Not every pet will require a second procedure. If Stage 1 shows that no teeth need to be extracted, your pet’s treatment may be completed after the initial dental procedure.
What happens during Stage 1?
Stage 1 is performed under general anaesthesia so our veterinary team can safely and thoroughly assess your pet’s mouth.
The procedure includes:
- a comprehensive oral examination
- full-mouth dental X-rays
- scaling to remove plaque and tartar
- cleaning around and below the gum line
- assessment of the teeth and gums
- identification of teeth that may require further treatment
A significant portion of each tooth lies below the gum line, which means dental disease cannot always be fully assessed during an examination while your pet is awake.
Dental X-rays help us examine the tooth roots and surrounding structures and identify problems that may otherwise remain hidden.
After Stage 1, we can discuss the findings with you and explain whether any further treatment is recommended.
What happens during Stage 2?
If Stage 1 identifies teeth that need to be removed or require further treatment, we will arrange a second dental procedure.
Stage 2 is focused on performing the treatment identified during your pet’s initial dental assessment.
This may include:
- tooth extractions
- treatment of diseased or damaged teeth
- other more invasive dental procedures recommended following the Stage 1 assessment
Where required, Stage 2 is generally scheduled within a few weeks of the first procedure.
Why do we stage dental care procedures?
It is not always possible to determine the full extent of dental disease simply by examining your pet’s mouth while they are awake.
Dental X-rays and a comprehensive examination under anaesthesia can reveal problems below the gum line that were not previously visible.
By completing the dental assessment first, we can:
- properly assess every tooth
- identify disease below the gum line
- determine whether extractions are necessary
- plan any more involved dental treatment
- explain the findings and recommendations to you before proceeding
- avoid performing unnecessary extractions
Staging also allows more involved dental treatment to be completed during a separate procedure rather than extending the initial dental assessment and cleaning.
Are two anaesthetics safe for my pet?
We understand that having your pet undergo general anaesthesia can be a concern.
The existing staged dentistry approach at Capital Veterinary Hospital is designed to avoid combining a comprehensive dental assessment, cleaning and potentially extensive oral surgery into one prolonged procedure.
Before your pet undergoes a dental procedure, our veterinary team will assess their individual health and discuss any anaesthetic considerations with you.
This allows us to make treatment recommendations based on a much more complete assessment of your pet’s dental health.
What happens if my pet doesn’t need any teeth extracted?
If your pet’s Stage 1 examination and dental X-rays show that no extractions or further treatment are required, they will not need to proceed to Stage 2.
For some pets, the professional dental clean and assessment completed during Stage 1 will be all that is required at that time.
We will discuss your pet’s results with you and provide recommendations for ongoing dental care at home.
What happens if I don’t proceed with Stage 2?
If your veterinarian recommends an extraction, it is because the affected tooth has been assessed as requiring further treatment.
Leaving a diseased or painful tooth untreated may allow discomfort, infection or dental disease to continue or become worse.
Our veterinary team will explain why treatment has been recommended and discuss the available options with you.
Does staged dentistry cost more?
Each stage of dental treatment is a separate, full anaesthetic procedure, with its own pre-anaesthetic assessment, monitoring, medications, consumables, nursing care and recovery period.
The first appointment generally includes a dental assessment, scale and polish, dental X-rays, and identification of any teeth requiring further treatment. If extractions or other dental treatment are needed, a second procedure will then be scheduled.
Because staging involves two separate procedures, it can mean additional costs compared with completing all treatment during a single anaesthetic. However, staged treatment may be recommended in your pet’s best interests to limit anaesthetic time, reduce the risks of hypotension and hypothermia, allow appropriate planning for more complex extractions, and support a safer recovery.
Our veterinary team will discuss the recommended approach with you and provide a treatment plan before proceeding with each stage.
The benefits of staged dental care for cats and dogs
A staged approach allows us to assess your pet’s mouth thoroughly before more invasive treatment is performed.
| Benefit | What it means |
| Thorough assessment | Dental X-rays and examination provide a more complete understanding of your pet’s dental health. |
| More informed treatment planning | We can determine which teeth require treatment before scheduling extractions. |
| Time to discuss the findings | You can understand the recommended treatment before Stage 2 takes place. |
| More focused procedures | More involved dental treatment can be completed separately from the initial assessment and clean. |
| No unnecessary second procedure | Pets that do not require extractions finish treatment after Stage 1. |
How can I look after my pet’s teeth between dental procedures?
Good at-home dental care can help reduce plaque accumulation between veterinary dental checks.
Depending on your pet, we may recommend:
- brushing their teeth with pet-safe toothpaste
- appropriate dental diets
- veterinary-approved dental chews or products
- regular dental checks
- professional dental cleaning when required
Our veterinary team can recommend an at-home dental care routine that is appropriate for your pet.
Frequently asked questions
Does every pet need both stages?
No. Every pet begins with Stage 1, but Stage 2 is only required if the dental assessment identifies teeth that need extraction or other further treatment.
How long after Stage 1 will Stage 2 take place?
Where further treatment is required, Stage 2 is generally scheduled within one to two weeks.
Will my pet need general anaesthesia for both procedures?
Yes, veterinary dental procedures requiring dental X-rays, thorough cleaning or tooth extraction are performed under general anaesthesia.
Our veterinary team will assess your pet before each procedure and discuss any individual anaesthetic considerations with you.
Can you extract a tooth during Stage 1?
The staged approach is designed to use Stage 1 for assessment, dental x-rays and cleaning, with required extractions performed during Stage 2.
What if I don’t want my pet to have Stage 2?
We will explain the findings from your pet’s Stage 1 procedure and why any further treatment has been recommended.
If a diseased tooth is left untreated, pain, infection or dental disease may continue. We can discuss your options with you before you decide whether to proceed.
Will my pet be sore after a tooth extraction?
Some discomfort is expected after a tooth extraction, particularly when dental disease is advanced or multiple teeth need to be removed. We use several forms of pain relief before, during and after treatment to help keep your pet as comfortable as possible.
During Stage 1, your pet receives systemic pain relief as part of their anaesthetic. If we identify a painful or infected tooth that requires extraction or further treatment during Stage 2, your pet will go home with appropriate pain relief to keep them comfortable until their next procedure.
During Stage 2, when extractions or other dental treatment are performed, we use systemic pain relief together with local anaesthetic nerve blocks around the affected teeth. These blocks help reduce pain during the procedure and provide additional comfort as your pet wakes up.
During recovery, your pet will receive further pain relief, including a long-acting injection to provide pain relief for approximately 24 hours. They will also go home with medication for a period tailored to their individual needs, depending on the severity of their dental disease, the number and complexity of extractions, and their overall health.
