Ideally, dentistry should begin with ultrasonic scaling. An exam and charting can be performed after scaling, or the exam can occur once radiographs are available. The comprehensive oral examination Most veterinarians are used to performing their physical exam in the same order every time. Apply this same approach to your dental exams. Doing your exam in the same order every time minimizes the risk of forgetting something. Start with the pet in left lateral recumbency, with the right side of the mouth up first. If possible, have a technician familiar with the dental chart to record findings as you dictate them aloud. Starting at 101 and using a periodontal probe, go along the gingiva of the buccal aspect of each tooth in order and note any pockets (that is where the probe sinks in) greater than 3 mm (up to 3 mm can be considered acceptable). Pockets of 4 mm or greater are indicators of pathology, possibly indicating detached attachment or abscess. On multirooted teeth, try to stick the probe under the crown and between the roots. If the probe goes through to the other side, that is called furcation. (There are different stages of furcation, which is more advanced than the scope of this course.) Look at the crowns for any defects, including fractures, wear, discoloration, or exposure of the pulp chamber. Test each tooth for mobility or how much it wiggles. Also, take note of where the gums meet the teeth. Do the gums make contact Conclusion This course was designed to be a beginner’s guide to veterinary dentistry for a general practitioner by a general practitioner. The goal was to familiarize the reader with the routine terminology, a basic overview of an oral exam, and some of the more typical abnormalities encountered in general practice. There is a lot more to dentistry than provided here. If interested, please seek more advanced courses or textbooks written by dental specialists.
If radiographs are available, they can be compared to exam findings and allow better decision-making regarding treatments.
on the tooth at the gingival sulcus like normal, or further down the root, causing root exposure? In other words, are a portion of the roots visible because the gums have receded along a tooth? This is called gingival recession and is a sign of periodontal disease. Of course, it is important to note any missing teeth, gingival overgrowth (hypertrophy) or masses. Once you complete the 100s arcade, go to 400s and go through the same process. While the pet is in left lateral recumbency, also look at the lingual side of the 200 and 300 arcades. Once this side of the mouth is completed, the pet is flipped, and the process is repeated for the buccal and incisional/occlusal surfaces of 200s and 300s and lingual aspect of 100s and 400s. For complete oral evaluation, dental radiographs are needed. Radiographs will show the integrity of the periodontal surfaces. Interpreting radiographs could be an entirely different course and therefore will not be addressed here, other than stating their importance. After your examination, radiographs, and dental charting are complete, you are ready to create a treatment plan and present that plan to your client.
WORKS CITED https://qr2.mobi/Veterinary_Dentistry
VETERINARY DENTISTRY: BASIC PRACTICAL GUIDEBOOK OF A THOROUGH ORAL EXAMINATION, 2ND EDITION Final Examination Questions
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93. What are some examples of systemic diseases caused by poor dental health? a. Endocarditis. b. Liver disease. c. Respiratory disease. d. All of the above. 94. What are some benefits to treating dental disease? a. Better breath for the animal. b. Resolution of local inflammation and abscesses. c. Decreased risk of systemic disease. d. All of the above. 95. Dental disease that is caused by the accumulation of bacteria that attaches to the gums and teeth is called _______. a. Periodontal Disease. b. Gingivitis. c. Inflammatory Disease. d. Oral lesions.
91. Why is dentistry in veterinary medicine underappreciated? a. Owners may only seek veterinary care if they notice a problem. b. Pets often continue to chew and eat despite having advanced dental disease. c. It may not be covered in school as much as it deserves. d. All of the answers shown 92. What are some examples of dental diseases caused by poor dental health? a. Gingivitis. b. Tooth root abscess.
c. Oronasal fistula. d. All of the above.
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