Dentistry

In the last 20 years, veterinary dentistry has seen tremendous growth in the education of veterinarians regarding oral health. And the message is being communicated to pet owners.

If you believe in the importance of pet dental health, it's easier to convince clients. Consider these marketing tips

Veterinary patients with chronic oral disease requiring oral surgery benefit tremendously from what I call the analgesic triad: continuous rate infusions (CRIs), physiologically targeted post-operative analgesics and regional nerve blocks.

While your team is probably always educating clients about dental care, February's Pet Dental Health Month gives you a chance to evaluate and hone your efforts-and these resources will help.

Oklahoma City, Okla. --Equine teeth floaters are getting another chance at legitimacy in Oklahoma, after two years of back-and-forth decisions over whether they could practice their craft in the state.

A reader tip for an oral antiseptic in exotic pets.

Medical management is possible, but often these cases result in extractions.

Participation in this CE offering is available to members of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. The applicable article is available in the December 2008 issue of The NAVTA Journal. (1 CE credit)

What is the current protocol for fluoride applications?

This on-demand AVMA course by Dr. Gregg DuPont will familiarize the general practitioner with the indications, advantages, and disadvantages of the various treatment options for their patients. (1 CE credit)

This on-demand AVMA course by Dr. Mary S. DeLory is a basic discussion of the key concepts of equine dental equilibration. (1 CE credit)

An unusual presentation results in an unusual diagnosis.

Many of our patients in veterinary dentistry are older or have compromised core body functions.

The oropharynx is the fourth most common site for malignant neoplasia.

Oral trauma can occur from many sources of force to the facial area.

Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery has come a long way in the last fifteen years.

Healing of oral surgery is similar to wound healing elsewhere in the body. However, there are modifying factors within the oral cavity that affect healing.

The periodontium is made up of the gingiva, the periodontal ligament(PDL), cementum and alveolar bone.

Seventy to 80 percent of all companion animals over the age of three have some level of periodontal disease. Yet, it is probably the most ignored disease in dogs and cats.

Once the dental prophylaxis is completed, the patient's mouth has been charted, and a full series of intraoral radiographs is ready for evaluation, some patients may have already been under anesthesia for over an hour.

In addition to considering staffing, equipment and scheduling, the practice should look closely at the anesthesia protocols and applications currently employed within the practice.

When practices are providing dentistry without evaluating the health of the tooth below the gum tissue, they are missing a vast amount of disease.

In 2009, we have come a long way in veterinary dentistry. We have come a long way, in veterinary medicine as a whole.

One of the first skills taught in veterinary dentistry is how to properly chart a mouth.

This convenient online on-demand dentistry course covers everything from the basic types of bone augmentation to materials to insurance coverage. (1 CE credit)

In this online course, veterinary technicians and staff members will learn how to improve patients' overall health through an understanding of good feline dental care, identify the most common and problematic oral diseases affecting cats, apply good oral examination and treatment guidelines to feline patients and take advantage of information that will help build a feline dentistry practice. (1 CE credit)

I have a feline patient with an upper right canine fractured at the gumline. The cat's owner cannot afford surgery. Is there anything I can do to help keep this patient comfortable?

Root-canal therapy was chosen to avoid surgery on the patient mentioned in the first two parts of this series. While root canal is very successful, not all cases respond. Additional therapy may be required.

Up to 34 percent of horses of all ages experience some level of periodontal disease, but up to 60 percent of horses 13 years of age or older suffer from severe periodontal disease.

Complimentary tooth checks increase the number of dental cleanings-and thus healthy pets.