It's very individual. Your Vet will weigh up the digs age and medical history against the risk posed by the dental issues. They're less likely to take the risk for a standard clean but if there's an infection it may be necessary.

Age is not a disease.

Old age is not a disease. The safety of anesthesia depends on the comorbidities the animal has (kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease, etc) and the drug protocols used for anesthesia. I would discuss it with your veterinarian and ensure you do pre surgical lab work prior to the procedure. Bad dental disease can cause damage to the heart or other vital organs and shorten a pet’s lifespan plus it causes dental pain, horrible breath, teeth rotting out of their mouth.

Usually when a pet is considered a senior, they typically require “geriatric bloodwork” before being put under. It’s more expensive, but it’s worth it if your pet could be at risk given their age 😊

go see a dental specialist they will have more options that give you confidence

When your vet says they'd rather not do it. We have a senior pibble and I thought she would be due for cleaning last year. Tthe vet was like, oh, no, we are done with optional surgery. If she gets an infection in her teeth we go with antibiotics and hope that buys time.

Bloodwork will tell them if they have an underlying condition that would make it unsafe.

Anesthesia isn’t as dangerous for older dogs as it used to be. My 11.5 year old takes a little longer to come out of it as he ages, but honestly, he takes longer to do everything these days. Discuss your concerns with your vet if you’re worried, but I’m pretty sure the level of anesthesia used for teeth cleaning is less risky than the level used for major surgeries.

I had my previous dog go under for a dental procedure at 17 years old. We did the blood tests beforehand, he had extra IV fluids & apart from his teeth & CCD, his health was very good. He recovered well. He became even more enthusiastic about food. I’m looking at having Kirby’s done again, he is 13. I want to make sure I deal with any dental issues as soon as they arise, to prevent additional health problems. Rationally, I’m not too concerned, but on the day, I’ll be an anxious mess.