dentaldisease

Did you know that 80% of animals over 5 years of age have some form of dental disease? At South Branch Veterinary Services, we utilize the latest techniques and modern equipment to provide the best dental care for your pet. You have been given this handout because we have identified dental disease in your pet. This handout explains exactly what is involved in a dental procedure at our hospital.

Every pet we see has an examination of the mouth performed as part of the general physical examination. We can see if there is obvious disease in the mouth. We will grade the severity of the dental disease we can see using a scale of mild, moderate, or severe. This gives us a rough idea of what we may need to do during a dental procedure. It is difficult to fully examine the mouth of an awake pet because we can only see the crowns of the teeth, NOT the roots. We will provide a rough estimate for the procedures we may need to do. We may find further problems during the dental procedure, and in this case we will call you to discuss our findings and give you an exact cost for the procedure at that time. It is extremely important that you are available to talk to the doctor while your pet is under anesthesia. Failure to get permission to do certain procedures such as extractions in a timely manner may mean a prolonged anesthesia for your pet, or a follow up anesthesia and surgery.

All pets that receive general anesthesia at our hospital get a full physical examination on the day of the surgery, and blood tests are performed to make sure there are no hidden problems. Older pets need pre-op chest radiographs and an EKG.

Anesthesia- Dentistry requires general anethestic; it is not possible to do a complete and thorough exam, radiographs, and perform proper periodontal treatment on an awake pet. will receive an antibiotic injection pre-op, then an IV catheter will be placed for the administration of pre op and induction medication for anesthesia; an IV drip of fluids is started to ensure adequate blood pressure, hydration, and emergency access. Careful monitoring is done during and after the procedure including pulse ox, blood pressure, EKG, and capnography. Temperature is carefully monitored and circulating hot water pads and blankets are used to keep your pet comfortable during and after the dental procedure.

Intraoral Radiology- We perform x-rays of the teeth for all patients undergoing a dental procedure. The only way to accurately evaluate the whole tooth is to x-ray because the crown is the only portion of the tooth that is visible; the root of the tooth is embedded in a socket in the jaw bone. In many cases the crown of the tooth may appear normal, but an x-ray of the tooth may reveal a problem with the root that requires treatment (see images below). Once abnormal teeth in the mouth have been x-rayed, the treating veterinarian reviews the x-rays and decides on what therapy is required for each tooth.

Scaling: Scaling is the process where the tartar is removed from the teeth. Tartar is produced by bacteria that live on the teeth. Tartar causes inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and this leads to recession of the gums, exposure of the tooth roots, and, eventually, loss of the tooth. We remove the tartar with a combination of an ultrasonic scaler and manual hand scaling (just like the human dental hygienists). Removal of the tartar on the teeth is vital to improving the health of the mouth and it also removes the source of the patient's halitosis (bad breath).

Periodontal probing: Once the teeth have been scaled, the veterinarian examines each tooth individually with a periodontal probe. We use this probe to look for pockets. Pockets are caused by the gum losing its attachment to the tooth. Bacteria and tartar can accumulate in the pocket, causing the wall of the tooth socket to erode, leading to tooth loss. A small pocket may be cleaned and flushed, but a deeper pocket usually means that the affected tooth needs to be removed.

Charting: The combination of radiology and periodontal probing allows us to accurately diagnose any problems with the teeth and formulate a treatment plan. We use a special chart to record our findings and treatments.

Extractions: If we decide that a tooth cannot be saved, it will be extracted. Examples of teeth that need extraction are: loose and painful teeth, teeth with a painful root abscess, teeth with painful cavities or resorptive lesions. If extraction is the only option we elevate a flap of gum tissue to expose the jaw bone. A high speed drill is used to cut the tooth into sections to allow for easier removal. The tooth is removed using instruments called elevators. Once the tooth is removed, the socket is cleaned, and then we close over the socket using the gum flap which prevents food material from becoming lodged in the empty socket. The flap is sutured with a fine, absorbable suture.

Post operative care: We will give specific post operative instructions which may include soft food and no toothbrushing for several days. We will discuss treatment options designed to reduce the accumulation of tartar on teeth. Some treatment options may include a combination of toothbrushing, special chews, and/or dental diets.