Dentistry

Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery has come a long way in the last fifteen years.

Healing of oral surgery is similar to wound healing elsewhere in the body. However, there are modifying factors within the oral cavity that affect healing.

The periodontium is made up of the gingiva, the periodontal ligament(PDL), cementum and alveolar bone.

Seventy to 80 percent of all companion animals over the age of three have some level of periodontal disease. Yet, it is probably the most ignored disease in dogs and cats.

Once the dental prophylaxis is completed, the patient's mouth has been charted, and a full series of intraoral radiographs is ready for evaluation, some patients may have already been under anesthesia for over an hour.

In addition to considering staffing, equipment and scheduling, the practice should look closely at the anesthesia protocols and applications currently employed within the practice.

When practices are providing dentistry without evaluating the health of the tooth below the gum tissue, they are missing a vast amount of disease.

In 2009, we have come a long way in veterinary dentistry. We have come a long way, in veterinary medicine as a whole.

One of the first skills taught in veterinary dentistry is how to properly chart a mouth.

This convenient online on-demand dentistry course covers everything from the basic types of bone augmentation to materials to insurance coverage. (1 CE credit)

In this online course, veterinary technicians and staff members will learn how to improve patients' overall health through an understanding of good feline dental care, identify the most common and problematic oral diseases affecting cats, apply good oral examination and treatment guidelines to feline patients and take advantage of information that will help build a feline dentistry practice. (1 CE credit)

I have a feline patient with an upper right canine fractured at the gumline. The cat's owner cannot afford surgery. Is there anything I can do to help keep this patient comfortable?

Root-canal therapy was chosen to avoid surgery on the patient mentioned in the first two parts of this series. While root canal is very successful, not all cases respond. Additional therapy may be required.

Up to 34 percent of horses of all ages experience some level of periodontal disease, but up to 60 percent of horses 13 years of age or older suffer from severe periodontal disease.

Complimentary tooth checks increase the number of dental cleanings-and thus healthy pets.

Malocclusions need to be recognized early to prevent damage to the maxillary palate.

Disease of the oral cavity is a common problem, particularly in middle-aged to older cats.

Teeth are extracted for a number of reasons.

Veterinary dentistry is emerging as one of the fastest growing "new" disciplines of veterinary patient care.

Endodontics is the diagnosis and treatment of diseases inside the tooth that affect the tooth pulp and apical periodontal tissues.

Superficial and deep pyodermas are undoubtedly among the most common problems a veterinary practitioner faces.

The bisecting angle technique has been the technique of choice for most intraoral radiographic techniques.

Periodontal surgery involves a special discipline of dentistry that requires extensive flap management techniques.

Periodontal disease is a disease of the supportive structures of the teeth.

The term "oral exam" usually denotes to most practitioners elevation of the patient's lips on the exam table and observing the pathology present.

The main goal of fracture repair is to regain a normal and comfortable occlusion.

The field of veterinary dentistry has changed rapidly in the last few years.

There are many techniques currently employed for mandibular fracture repair.

Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas are all monogastric, hindgut-fermenting herbivores adapted to a course, high-fiber diet.

It is very important that the veterinary technician know the normal anatomy of the canine and feline.