VT

1. Dental Prophylaxis
Review

2. Canine Dentition

3. Feline Dentition

4. Oral Exam and History
• Patient history is very important for safety of the
patient.
• Animal is put under elective anesthesia for dental
procedures.
• Oral exam includes evaluation of the following:
• Face
• Head
• Neck
• Occlusion
• Intraoral structure
• Soft tissues
• Teeth
• Surrounding structures

5. Oral Exam/Periodontal Exam
• Periodontium attachment structures of the
teeth includes:
• Gingival connective tissue
• Alveolar bone
• Periodontal ligament
• Cementum
• Examine for:
• Mobility
• Fracture/chips
• Gingiva-Inflammation, hyperplasia, neoplasia
• Sulcus depth(normal 0-3 mm)
• Furcation exposure

6. Mobility Scoring
• Stage 0: Physiological mobility 0.2mm.
• Stage 1: Mobility is increased in any
direction 0.2-0.5mm.
• Stage 2: Mobility is increased in any
direction 0.5 to 1 mm.
• Stage 3: Mobility is increased in any
direction more than 1 mm.

7. Periodontal Disease
• Gingivitis-inflammation of the gingiva.
• Periodontitis-inflammation of all
structures of periodontum.
• Four grades of periodontal disease.
• Review Chapter 6 of Holstrom:
Veterinary Dentistry a Team Approach

8. Four Grades of Periodontal Disease

9. Periodontal Debridement
• Done before scaling.
• Manual removal of large plaque from
teeth.
• Remove both hard and soft plaque both
supragingival and subgingival.
• When debriding, make sure to use
cuffed ET tube and angle the patient’s
head down so debris does is not
aspirated.

10. Power Scaling: Energy → Vibration
• When scaling, bacteria becomes aerosolized; be
sure all proper safety equipment is worn (face mask,
goggles, gloves, gown).
• Power scaling instruments have a water cooled tip.
• Allows for quick and effective cleaning.
• Sonic Scaler- powered by an air compressor on the
dental unit, attached to a high speed air line.
• Elliptical motion created by the air exiting the shaft.
• Ultrasonic Scaler-uses electrical energy that’s
converted to sound waves creating rapid vibrations.
Effectively removes biofilm and hard plaque.
• Piezoelectric
• Magnetostrictive
• Review chapter 3 of Holstrom

11. Ultrasonic Scaling
Ultrasonic scaling tip
should never be at 90
degree angle toward
tooth surface, the tip
will cause damage to
the enamel.

12. Hand Scalers
• In general, consist of three parts:
• Handle
• Shank
• Working end
• Shank can be straight or bent.
• Straight shank best for rostral teeth.
• Bent better to reach more distal teeth.
• Types of scalers:
• Sickle-Supragingival scaling
• Curette-Subgingival scaling

13. Hand Scalers
Review Chapter 34 of
McCurnin’s Clinical
Textbook for Veterinary
Technicians, 8th Edition.
Scaler parts include the Face,
Cutting Edge and Tip
Curette parts include the Toe,
Face and Cutting Edge.

14. Polishing
• Smooths surface of teeth after scaling.
• Abrasive agent is used as prophy paste.
• Polisher cup (on the prophy angle) on low speed
hand piece either electrical or powered by air
compressor.

15. Single-Root Extraction
 In the state of California, licensed veterinary
technicians are legally allowed to perform simple, or
single-root extractions under the direct supervision of
a licensed veterinarian.
 Step 1: sever the gingival attachment using a dental
elevator or a root tip pick.
 Step 2: vertically rotate the elevator around the tooth
increasing the space applying slow, steady pressure.
 Step 3: continue applying pressure to break the
periodontal ligament and exfoliate tooth.
 Review chapter 12 in Holstrom: Veterinary Dentistry
a Team Approach

16. Dental Nerve Blocks
• Infraorbital/rostral maxillary
• Mental/rostral mandibular
• Mandibular/caudal mandibular
• Maxillary /caudal maxillary

17. Infraorbital/Rostral Maxillary

18. Mental/Rostral Mandibular Block

19. Maxillary/Caudal Maxillary

20. Mandibular/Caudal Mandibular