Transcript Veterinary Dentistry

Veterinary Dentistry
CTVT: Chapter 34
begins on page 1297
Objectives
 Recognize a patient’s dental health status
 Perform techniques, as prescribed by a veterinarian,
to promote and maintain dental health
*Perform routine dental prophylaxis
*Understand client education regarding home care
Why is Veterinary Dentistry Important?
 Dental disease can lead to:
 Anorexia
 Chronic pain syndromes
 Organ disease
 American Veterinary Dental College
 Organization recognized by the American Board of Veterinary
Specialties of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Board Certified Veterinary Dentist
Veterinary Dental Organizations
Opportunities for advanced training in dentistry:
 NAVTA responsible for governing and overseeing
Veterinary Technician Specialists (VTS).

Anesthesia, emergency and critical care, internal medicine,
dentistry, behavior, zoo, etc
 Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians
(AVDT) credentials LVTs as specialists in dentistry
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Requires 3000 hours experience then…secure a mentor,
maintain case logs, write case reports, pass a specialty
exam, and attend extra CE courses.
See www.avdt.us for further info.
Why is it exciting?!
Ethical and Legal Aspects
 The level of dental care that a veterinary technician may
provide varies from state to state.
 The American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) considers it
appropriate for the veterinarian to delegate maintenance
dental care and certain dental tasks to vet techs.
Dental Tasks for Veterinary Technicians
 Oral examination and charting
 Professional dental cleaning “Dental prophylaxis”
 Taking and developing dental radiographs
 Taking impressions and making models
 Performing nonsurgical, subgingival root planning
 Client education
*Procedures performed by veterinary technicians must not
result in alterations in the shape, structure, or
positional location of teeth in the dental arch.
History and Extraoral Examination
 Dental procedures require general anesthesia
 Obtain a proper history
 Ask about general medical info, medications, nutrition/treats,
toys
 Extraoral exam
 Palpate muscles of the face
 Retropulse the eyelids

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Look for symmetric depth and firmness
Look for ocular and nasal discharge
Palpate submandibular lymph nodes
Intraoral Examination
 The entire mouth should be evaluated:
1. Soft tissue

Mucosa- should be pink or pigmented; no lesions seen

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Hard palate- covered in ________

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Two salivary ducts bumps dorsal to max. 4th PM/1st M
Incisive papilla- midline, caudal to incisors
Pharynx- evaluate for inflammation/neoplasia
Tongue- chewing lesions present?
Intraoral Examination
2. Teeth

Number, fractures, mobility, etc
3. Periodontium
Inflammation, pockets,
bone loss, etc

*Radiographs often necessary
The Periodontum
 The periodontum is the area where the tooth meets
the gum.

To attach the tooth to the jaw and provide support, resistant to
normal, functional forces.
It includes:
Gingiva
 Periodontal ligament
 Cementum
 Alveolar bone

The Periodontum
 Gingiva = gum tissue surrounding teeth
 Healthy gingiva can be pink or pigmented
 The margin lies closely against the crown of the tooth
 Gingival _________ is the shallow groove
between the tooth and the gingiva.


Normal depth is 0-3 mm in canines; up to 1 mm in felines
Called a _________________ when abnormal.
The Peridontium
 Cementum is a bone-like
tissue that covers the root
surface.

It is stronger than bone but not as
strong as enamel.

It is capable of repairing
itself.
 Alveolar bone forms the
tooth socket.
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Blood vessels and nerves run
through the alveolar bone
Periodontal ___________
attaches cementum to the
alveolar bone.
Occlusion
 Orthodontics studies the way in which the teeth meet
each other (occlude).
 Occlusion is defined as the normal position of the teeth
when the jaws are closed.

In normal occlusion, teeth come together in a scissors bite.
Scissor Bite Evaluation
 Scissors bite is evaluated in three locations:
1. The mandibular canine tooth resides in the
________________ space of the upper third incisor
and the upper canine tooth.
2. The upper fourth premolar is labial to the lower
first molar, which together, constitute the
____________ teeth.
3. Maxillary incisors are slightly ___________ to the
mandibular incisors.
Normal Occlusion
Normal scissors occlusion in a dog:
Rostral view of incisors and canine teeth
Mesocephalic Breeds
Well proportioned skull width and maxillary length;
Ex. Dalmations, Labs, German shepherd dogs.
Dolichocephalic
Narrow skull and long maxilla;
Sight hounds, collies & Siamese cats.
Brachycephalic Breeds
Wide skull with a short maxilla;
Pugs, Bulldogs & Persian cats
Normal Scissors Occlusion:
When all three locations are normal- the premolars
interdigitate toward the opposing interdental space.