The entire periodontal procedure or dental begins with a physical examination and blood work to determine whether or not Fluffy is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.
When Fluffy is admitted to the hospital, she is given a pre-anesthetic medication to reduce pain and stress. After an intravenous catheter is placed, a short acting anesthetic injectable is given to make her fall asleep. At that point a breathing tube is inserted and a human grade gas anesthesia / oxygen mix is administered directly into her lungs. During the entire procedure she will be kept on a thermal warming blanket to assure that her temperature stays within normal limits. In addition, her heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure are all closely monitored by highly trained technicians. Intravenous fluids are also given during and after the procedure to maintain blood pressure, and to keep her hydrated.
Once Fluffy is under anesthesia, a complete oral exam is performed to check for any growths or abnormalities. With the same instruments used in human medicine all of the teeth are cleaned, scaled, and polished to remove the calculus and tartar above and below the gum line. This is known as subgingival scaling. Once the entire mouth has been cleaned, each tooth is inspected for any deep pockets. Pockets are indicators of periodontal disease which causes bone loss around the root of the tooth.
If a pocket is found, a digital dental xray is taken of the tooth to determine the level of bone loss. If minimal bone loss is noted an antibiotic gel is placed into the pocket to prevent infection, further bone loss, and possible future extraction. If more than 50% bone loss is noted the tooth will be extracted. Without extraction this tooth will eventually become infected and very painful.
If a tooth or teeth need to be extracted, great care is taken in preventing and controlling pain. In addition to two different injections of powerful types of pain medication, a local nerve block is performed around the extraction site.
When the procedure is over, Fluffy will spend the remainder of the day recovering and resting while being closely monitored by our trained staff.
Above is a picture of what Fluffy's teeth looked like before her cleaning. Below is the after shot. The difference is almost unbelievable.
Every February, several veterinary groups, including the The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA),and the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) join together to educate pet owners to the importance of regular care of their pets dental needs during Pet Dental Health Month. Here at Vet Associates we also take dental care very seriously. If you have any questions or would like further information on pet dental care please feel free to contact our office.
