The oral consultation is the foundation of safe and effective dental care, giving us the opportunity to demonstrate disease, communicate a plan, and set reasonable expectations.
A complete diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions in dogs and cats requires general anesthesia which is administered in a conscientious manner with patient safety as the top priority.
More than a dental cleaning, the Oral ATP includes 3 phases to expose disease, allow appropriate treatment and establish preventive measures for a better quality of life.
With more tooth structure below the gumline, advanced imaging with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is more useful than dental radiographs and essential to an accurate diagnosis.
Early assessment by a Board Certified Veterinary DentistTM provides an opportunity to detect developmental issues before they lead to more severe disease.
Periodontics is the area of dentistry dealing with the tissues around the teeth including the gingiva, cementum which covers the tooth root, the alveolar bone surrounding the tooth and the periodontal ligament that holds the tooth in.
Oral surgery is commonly performed for extraction of teeth, removal of tumors, repair of defects of the hard and soft palate, oronasal fistulas, and traumatic injuries such as fractures.
Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that pertains to diagnosis and treatment of diseases inside of the tooth. The most common examples are root canal and vital pulp therapy with the goal of keeping important teeth.
Composite materials can be used to replace damaged tooth structure or metal crowns placed to provide protection against ongoing damage to strategic teeth.