Advanced Veterinary Dentistry
Charles H. Schor, DVM

  Dr. Schor can offer many advanced veterinary dental treatments including:

 Why does my pet need a dentistry?

As a human, you are very aware of your own teeth.  You know about plaque control, cavity prevention and the social evils of bad breath.  Dental care is just as important for your pet as it is for you. The average lifespan of a dog or cat that receives timely dental care lives 10-20% longer than one that doesn't. 

After your pet reaches a few years of age, tartar begins to build up at the junction of their gums and teeth.  If this tartar is not removed, it will increase until it becomes infected.  Infection leads to foul breath, as well as pain and a constant unsavory taste for your pet.  If the situation is not soon remedied, severe gum infections, abscessed teeth, and tooth loss will develop.  Chronic infection in the mouth will allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream and cause infection in organs such as the liver, kidneys, the heart and the joints.

Dental care for pets is very similar to dental care for humans.  The primary difference is that anesthesia is necessary to perform these services safely and adequately.  A well balanced anesthetic protocol can be safe and effective for patients of all ages and health concerns.  Individual protocols will be used to provide the safest experience possible for your pet. 

While your pet is under anesthesia, their professional teeth cleaning session will include the following steps:

1.	Oral and facial examination. We will check your pet for any swelling or painful areas on the face.  Does your pet show pain while opening mouth? Is there swelling on and around the facial area? Is there an abnormal growth inside the oral cavity?
2.	We examine each individual tooth for any mobility, fractures, incorrect teeth positioning, or periodontal disease.
3.	Cleaning above the gumline will occur next. Plaque and tartar accumulation will be removed with hand instruments and deposits will be removed with an ultrasonic scaler.
4.	Removal of plaque and calculus will then be removed from the root surface by root scaling, root planing, and subgingival curettage.  This will create a healthier environment for healing, reattachment of the gingiva, and reduction of any minor periodontal pockets.
5.	Intraoral X-Rays will be taken to evaluate crown and root structure as well as the supporting bone and soft tissue surrounding each tooth. Intraoral X-Rays will be used both before and after any necessary extractions or endodontic treatments.
6.	Polishing paste will smooth out any minor defects on the tooth surface and removes plaque missed during the previous steps.
7.	Irrigation with water will remove diseased tissue and plaque from any pockets or gingival lining.
8.	The oral cavity is thoroughly charted for any missing, loose, fractured, or discolored teeth. We will also chart periodontal pocket depths, gingival recession, significant lesions, or necessary treatments.
9.	OraVet Professional Barrier Sealant will be applied to each tooth in order to reduce any bacteria attachment to teeth, which will help prevent plaque and calculus formation.
10.	Successful dental home care plan. You the pet owner is an integral part of our dental team. The dental home care that you could provide your pet with, is the single most important procedure you can do to maintain their oral health. If performed regularly, your dental home care program will dramatically increase the interval between teeth cleaning appointments.