Once gingivitis is present, plaque / tartar will start getting into the tissue under the gums (subgingival space) and starts affecting and deteriorating the tooth support. (mcleanvet.com)
On top of that, AVDC claims that it's quite impossible to evaluate the overall oral health status of the non-anesthetized dog, and most of all, it would be very difficult to scale hard - to - reach areas, such as the inner sides of the teeth and the deeper subgingival area in a non-anesthetized dog. (notinthedoghouse.com)
The examination consisted of inspection for any remaining subgingival calculus using compressed air, exposed full mouth radiographs and a complete oral exam. (ivcjournal.com)