SERVICES
Among the services we offer
are the following:
-
ENDODONTICS: The
branch of dentistry dealing with
diseases of the pulp (or nerve) inside
the tooth.
-
Root canal
treatment: When a tooth
fractures and the pulp is exposed,
bacteria enter the pulp, leading to
pulp necrosis and, eventually, a
"tooth-root abscess". Root canal
treatment involves removing the pulp
from within the tooth, cleaning the
inside of the tooth, and placing an
inert material inside the tooth to
prevent bacteria from entering.
-
Vital pulp
therapy: Emergency treatment for
acute tooth fractures (less than 2
days old) preserves the vitality of
the tooth, in most cases avoiding the
need for extraction or root canal
treatment.
  
-
ORAL MEDICINE: The
specialty of dentistry concerned with
the oral health care of
medically-compromised patients, as well
as with the diagnosis & non-surgical
management of medically-related
disorders of the oral cavity. 
Left: Louie, a 15-year-old
terrier mix with heart disease.
Right: Sierra, an 18-year-old
cat with kidney disease.
-
This 10-year-old
Tibetan terrier had recurrent facial
swelling under his right eye. Although
there were no obvious problems with
the tooth based on awake examination,
dental radiographs revealed evidence
of severe inflammation around all
three roots (seen as black circles in
the x-ray above), indicating necrosis
of the pulp inside the tooth.
-
ORAL &
MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY: Diagnosis and
surgical treatment of injuries, defects,
and tumors of the oral cavity and jaws.
This includes full-mouth
extractions for severe stomatitis cases,
maxillectomy and mandibulectomy
for treatment of oral tumors, and repair
of jaw fractures. Intra-oral acrylic
splints offer a non-invasive alternative
for treatment of fractured jaws in
specific cases.
This cat had necrotic bone on
his maxilla, or upper jaw, after an injury.
The necrotic area was removed surgically (with
a partial maxillectomy) and the patient made a
full recovery.
-
ORTHODONTICS: The
dental specialty that focuses on the
development, prevention, and correction
of irregularities of the teeth, bite,
and jaw. Please note that, in our
practice, application of orthodontic
appliances is performed to move teeth
which are causing discomfort, pain, or
dysfunction, and not for cosmetic reasons.
Because many cases of malocclusion
(improper alignment of the teeth and/or
jaws) are hereditary, we strongly
recommend against breeding animals which
require orthodontic treatment.
 
-
This canine tooth was
directed too far forward, which can
cause trauma to the lips and leads to
more rapid plaque accumulation on the
crowded teeth. After orthodontic
treatment, the teeth are in their
normal position.
-
PERIODONTICS: The
branch of dentistry dealing with
diseases of the tissues surrounding and
supporting the teeth (including gums and
alveolar bone).
  
  
-
This 6-year-old
Cocker spaniel came in for recurrent
bouts of bad breath despite dental
cleaning by her primary care
veterinarian. Although her teeth and
gums appeared healthy, dental x-rays
revealed severe bone loss at her lower
first molar teeth (above). Periodontal
surgery and guided bone regeneration
(using a synthetic bone grafting
material) allowed new bone growth
around these important teeth, as shown
in the x-rays on the right, taken
about 6 months after the surgery.
-
This fractured upper
fourth premolar, an important chewing
tooth, had a gold crown placed
following root canal treatment to
restore the tooth to its normal shape
and to help protect against further
fracture.
ANESTHETIC SAFETY
General anesthesia is required
to obtain intra-oral radiographs, achieve
thorough periodontal treatment, and to
perform any oral surgical procedures which
might be indicated. We understand your
concerns for your pet's safety, and in order
to minimize the risk of anesthetic
complications, we provide the
following:
-
Pre-surgical Assessment:
Pre-surgical blood tests and physical
examination enable us to assess and
minimize the risk of anesthesia for your
pet.
-
Monitoring: A
veterinary nurse is present throughout the
procedure, monitoring heart rate and
rhythm, respiration rate and quality, body
temperature, blood oxygenation, and blood
pressure. This allows us to detect and
address potential problems before they
become life-threatening.
-
IV Catheterization: For all
procedures requiring general anesthesia,
an intravenous catheter is placed to
provide us with an easy route to
administer medications and fluids (which
support blood pressure and k idney
function) during the procedure.
-
Pain
Management: We will pro-actively
manage pain associated with any oral
surgical procedure by administering pain
medications before and/or after the
procedure, in addition to use of local
anesthetics (similar to Novocain®). As
with any drug, side effects may be
associated with administration of pain
medications and local anesthetic agents.
We often receive
questions from clients with "teacup" Yorkie,
Maltese and poodle dogs regarding anesthetic
safety. Because persistent deciduous teeth and
periodontal disease are common oral conditions
in these adorable pups, we do see them
frequently in our practice. Our smallest
patient, Hayley Mei (pictured at right),
weighs only 1 kg (2.2 lbs)! We have provided
oral care for her every year since she was six
months old. Our anesthesia protocols are not
"cookie cutter" but are tailored for each
patient. For tiny patients, maintaining body
temperature, blood pressure and blood glucose
levels are especially important, and we take
additional steps with these patients to ensure
that they have a smooth anesthetic experience
and a rapid recovery.
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learn more about veterinary dentistry and
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