Proper oral care is an important part of keeping your dog healthy. Teeth which are not cared for properly can cause widespread infection and chronic pain. Regular dental cleaning is an important part of routine dental care. Brushing your dog's teeth at home is smart, but even if done daily, calculus still accumulates on the teeth and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) can develop. If the teeth are badly infected or diseased, extraction may be necessary. Proper cleaning and extraction requires anesthesia and should only be performed by a veterinarian.
Things You'll Need
- Radiographic system--digital or intraoral
- Periodontal probe
- Ultrasonic dental scaler
- Dental prophy cups
- Dental prophy paste
- Carbide or diamond dental bur
- Root elevators
- Spoon curettes
Instructions
Anesthetize and intubate the dog. Intubation involves placing a tube in the trachea to protect the airway. This prevents aspiration of water and dental debris into the lungs as the dental procedures progress as well as allows the dog to receive supplemental oxygen through the procedure if necessary.
Perform a complete oral examination looking for abnormalities such as broken or discolored teeth, bad breath, tumors, ulcers, foreign bodies, inflammation or bleeding. Note any abnormal results.
Use a periodontal probe to measure the depth of the periodontal pocket (a furrow formed under the gingiva or gum tissue where it contacts the tooth) of each tooth, and record the findings.
Obtain a full set of dental radiographs including intraoral radiographs (x-rays) of all teeth. Radiographs often show dental pathology which is not visible on an external exam. Use the radiographs to develop a diagnostic plan including any teeth which are diseased enough to require extraction.
Use an ultrasonic tooth scaler to clean the teeth. Though hand scaling is possible, an ultrasonic device can do a more thorough job of cleaning the teeth in a shorter period of time. Place the tip of the device near the tooth, and rely on the vibration from the instrument to remove any calculus on the tooth rather than trying to scrape it away. Do not allow the tip of the instrument to stay on one area for longer than a few seconds. Remember to clean under the subgingival area (the area under the gums at the neck of the tooth).
Polish the teeth using a prophy paste specifically designed for polishing along with a prophy cup which operates at a low speed of rotation.
Irrigate the subgingival area to remove any excess prophy paste or other debris.
Extract teeth as needed based on the earlier oral and radiographic examination. For teeth with more than one root, section the teeth into single-rooted sections using a carbide or diamond dental bur to cut the tooth. Use a root elevator to loosen the periodontal ligament which attaches the tooth to the jaw. Use the elevator as a lever with gentle steady pressure to break the ligament, and remove the tooth or tooth segment. Curette the alveolus (the tooth socket) by using a spoon curette to remove any inflamed tissue.
Suture the extraction area if desired. Suturing is controversial. Some veterinarians feel leaving the wound open allows drainage and reduces the risk of complications. Others feel that closing the wound keeps food and other debris out of the wound, speeds healing and reduces the risk of infection.
Apply a sealant on the teeth to aid as a barrier to plaque. Place the sealant on the teeth, and use a gloved finger or a prophy cup to spread it over the surface of the teeth.