QUARTERLY BEAT / APRIL 2025
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DENTAL ORAL PATHOLOGY: FIND IT AND FIX IT
Stefanie Perry, CVT, VTS (Dentistry) VetNerd Dentistry Training LLC, Scottsdale, Arizona Taking care of an animal’s oral health is about more than just keeping their teeth clean - it’s essential to their overall well-being. Dental oral pathology can impact everything from eating habits to comfort and quality of life, making it vital to identify and address issues early. This article outlines a systematic approach to canine and feline dental exams, including standardized nomenclature, charting practices, and common oral pathologies. By maintaining consistent documentation and a solid understanding of these conditions, veterinary teams can effectively diagnose and treat problems, ensuring pets remain healthy and happy.
In this VETgirl Webinar “Dental Oral Pathology: Find It and Fix It” presented live on February 26, 2025, Stefanie Perry, CVT, VTS (Dentistry) takes us through the systematic approach to canine and feline dental exams and reviews ‘normals’ and ‘abnormals’ of the canine and feline oral examination! In case you missed the webinar, check it out HERE or take a look at the cliff notes below! Performing the intraoral exam in dorsal recumbency is helpful to make all tissues visible at once, eliminating the need to rotate the patient and interrupt heat support and anesthesia monitoring. If it’s preferred to examine one side at a time, the head and shoulders can be rotated in dorsal recumbency after briefly removing the anesthesia circuit. Follow the modified Triadan system by beginning in the right maxillary quadrant (100) then counterclockwise (to the patient) onto the left maxillary (200), left mandibular (300), and right mandibular (400) quadrant CROWN TO APEX Each tooth can be considered an individual patient therefore each gets an individual exam. Examining each tooth should be uniform to avoid missing pathology and provide speed and accuracy. • Briefly check the number of teeth in each arch to account for missing or extra teeth. • Assess mobility first using the probe to manipulate the tooth. • Begin with the crown and the condition of the enamel, i.e., fractures/abrasion/attrition/defects. • Move to gingival margin/mucogingival line to assess gingivitis, gingival recession, periodontal pockets, etc. PROBING TECHNIQUE There are several types/styles of periodontal probes, which are graded to measure the depth of the sulcus in millimeters. They most often have an explorer/shepherd’s hook at the opposite end of the instrument handle. The explorer is very sharp and used to assess the hard tissues only. Probing is a gentle process to avoid traumatizing the gingiva and underlying tissue. Aggressive probing can inadvertently create a deeper pocket
Abbreviations used here are based on the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) nomenclature/ abbreviations, or common shorthand. Many are shortened to a simpler acronym from the AVDC- established abbreviations. Unique abbreviations are acceptable if they are defined within the medical record and are utilized consistently among all team members. Always include a key in the dental chart that defines any terms or abbreviations used in the document.
POSITION AND APPROACH The exam begins during anesthetic induction with an assessment of the occlusion before the endotracheal tube is placed. The occlusion cannot be fully examined once the tube prevents the mouth from closing. As the patient is intubated, this is also the ideal time to see the caudal area of the mouth, tonsils, epiglottis, etc.
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