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The
Twelve Basic Steps for Complete Small Animal Veterinary
Dental Care are as follows:
1. General Physical exam
2.
Initial Oral & Dental exam
3. Obvious
Tartar Removal
- Removes
obvious plaque, calculus, & tartar above
the gum line.
- Performed
under “Low Impact” anesthesia with careful monitoring.
- This
is the most visible part of the teeth cleaning process
to pet owners.
- Yet
this is one of the least important parts of the teeth
cleaning process for the pet.
- This
is the only step
that can even be attempted by non-veterinary
“no-anesthesia” canine teeth
cleaning
services
4. Sub-Gingival
Tartar Removal
- Removes
plaque, and tartar below the gum line.
- This
is the least visible part of the teeth cleaning process
for the pet's family.
- Yet, this
is the most important part of the procedure for the patient.
- Sub-Gingival
Tartar Removal may encompass any of these three sub-steps:
a) Subgingival
scaling (calculus or tartar removal); b)
Root planning (smoothing rough surfaces); c)
Subgingival Curettage (soft tissue debridement
of the inside of the gingival pocket).
5.
Teeth Polishing
- Removes
enamel surface defects and irregularities.
- Slows the re-accumulation
of plaque and tartar.
- Makes the teeth look nice
and pretty.
6. Gum Irrigation
- This step helps remove
all debris from below the gum line.
7. Ancillary Treatments:
Application of a whitening agent, followed by a dental
fluoride treatment, and finally application of a crown
sealant
- The whitening agent improves the cosmetic appearence
of the teeth.
- The fluoride strengthens
enamel, desensitizes
exposed dentin and/or cementum and decreases
the incidence of cavities.
- The crown sealant hepls
prevent adhesion of the oral bacteria wich create the
dental plaque and tartar in the first place.
8. Complete Tooth Charting to identify & document
problem areas
- Many
pets will have unexpected problem areas.
- All
abnormalities are recorded in the pet’s chart.
Example problems:
Periodontal pockets over
3mm in dogs and 1 mm in
cats;
Receding gums, Furcation exposures;
Tooth Fractures and areas of exposed dentin; Wiggly teeth;
Dead / non-viable teeth; Exposed tooth roots.
9.
Dental X-rays (Radiographs)
- All
suspicious areas should be radiographed.
- About
80% of the important canine and feline dental anatomy
is below the gum line and not visible to the eye.
10. Formulate & Implement
an Additional Dental Treatment Plan,
if need be
- Veterinarian
determines what treatment beyond basic tooth cleaning,
if
any, is needed.
- Veterinarian
determines what additional medications, if any, are
needed.
- Pet
Owner & Family are consulted
for their preferences
and insights.
- A
final additional treatment plan is agreed upon and initiated.
11. Formulate & Implement
a Veterinary Dental Home Care Plan
- Veterinary
Dental Home Care options are outlined for the family,
discussed, agreed upon, and demonstrated.
12. Follow-Up
- The
next appointment for professional veterinary dental care
- whether it’s a no-charge follow
up or next part
of a multi-stage
treatment program - can be
scheduled at the time the pet goes home.
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