Take Veterinary Dentistry to the Next Level

The Oral Examination and Understanding Periodontal Disease Progression

Being able to identify oral pathology and anomalies is essential. A thorough dental examination includes both conscious and anesthetized examinations to identify pathology and anomalies, and to aid in developing treatment plans.
Periodontal Disease is defined as an infectious disease caused by plaque and the resulting inflammatory response. If left untreated, periodontal disease will progress, resulting the destruction of the structures surrounding the tooth and can contribute to systemic concerns for the pet.

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• Learn the indices that should be evaluated on each tooth

• Understand how to properly record findings

• Outline the progression of Periodontal Disease

• Realize the link to systemic health

Complete Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT)

Performing a Complete Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) entails much more than removing plaque and calculus from the teeth. A thorough dental prophylaxis consists of educating the client, an oral examination, charting disease process, pathology and anomalies, radiographs, both supra and sub-gingival plaque and calculus removal, hand scaling, polishing, irrigation, and home care instructions. Each step is vital to prevent or halt disease progression.

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• Learn the steps necessary to perform a COHAT

• Understand the need to clean the entire tooth

• Realize the treatments available to halt disease progression

• Gain tips to make the cleaning procedure more efficient

Intraoral Radiography Made Easy -Tips and Tricks

Dental radiographs are an essential part of the oral exam. The crown is just the tip of the iceberg. Approximately 42% of dental pathology is found sub-gingivally. Radiographs will help diagnose pathology that is not visible from the surface, confirm suspect pathology as well as help demonstrate the pathology to the client. Dental radiographs can improve the standard of care in your practice and increase your clinic’s revenue.

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• Realize the factors necessary for a diagnostic dental radiograph

• Understand how to identify the appropriate teeth in the radiograph

• Learn to correctly position the animal, sensor, and tube head for diagnostic radiographs

• Recognize normal artifacts that may be found

Pain Management and Anesthesia for the Dental Patient

Pain management is more than the latest popular terminology. It is an important part of veterinary dentistry. Many of the procedures performed on animals are painful and it is our duty as technicians to ensure that our patients are as comfortable as possible. The delivery of local nerve blocks prior to performing many dental procedures or oral surgery is a great way to create preemptive analgesia. This can often be incorporated into a multimodal plan for pain control.

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• Recognize the importance of a dedicated anesthetist

• Understand the pain pathway in animals

• Learn how to place the 4 most common blocks

• Outline the importance of multimodal pain management for dental patients

Advanced Dental Procedures – Options to Extractions

Oral disease is one of the most prevalent diseases in dogs and cats. Unfortunately, that leads to the extraction of teeth that may have been saved. It is vital to offer the client the options to treatment via referral to veterinary dental specialist. Owners want what is in the best interest of their pets but may not be aware of alternative treatment options. Remember to never judge what your clients will be willing to do for their pets.

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• Understand the options for advanced procedures 

• Realize when to refer to a dental specialist

• Understand the basics of the procedure to better discuss options with owners