Veterinary Dentistry at Your Clinic

During a comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment (COHAT), Dr. De Paolo performs a thorough exam of the mouth and surrounding tissues while your pet is anesthetized. This includes probing and charting of each tooth, just as you would expect at your own dentist. In addition, each tooth is scaled above and below the gumline in order to remove the plaque and calculus (tartar) that has accumulated in order to treat or prevent periodontal disease. For more information about periodontal disease in pets, please visit the American Veterinary Dental College website, here. Along with the comprehensive oral examination, full mouth dental radiographs (x-rays) are taken in order to evaluate the roots of the teeth as well as the surrounding bone. Once charting and radiographs have been obtained, Dr. De Paolo will utilize these diagnostics to finalize a treatment plan for your pet. In some cases, no further treatment beyond the COHAT is indicated. For more information about the importance of performing this procedure under anesthesia, please visit the American Veterinary Dental College website, here.

Endodontics refers to the practice of treating the root canal system and pulp, which is where the blood vessels and nerves of the tooth are located. Commonly performed endodontic procedures include root canal therapy (removal of the pulp) and vital pulp therapy (pulp capping). The most common reason for needing endodontic therapy is a fractured tooth. Other possible reasons include death of the tooth after a concussive injury or tooth luxation (dislocation from the tooth socket).

Orthodontics refers to the practice of repositioning a tooth that is in an abnormal position within the mouth, which is called a malocclusion. In pets, the ultimate goal of orthodontics is to restore comfort and function rather than to improve cosmetics. Procedures that can be performed to treat a malocclusion include inclined plane therapy, interceptive orthodontics (in puppies or kittens), crown extensions, ball therapy, placement of brackets and power chains, crown height reduction with vital pulp therapy, and other less common procedures. 

Many malocclusions are heritable, meaning that dogs with malocclusions can pass those abnormalities to their offspring. Therefore, breeding of pets with heritable malocclusions is often not recommended. For the position statement of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Dental College regarding orthodontics, please visit this website.

Oral surgery is the broadest category in veterinary dentistry and encompasses many procedures such as tooth extractions and advanced oral surgery procedures. 

Some reasons that your pet may require tooth extractions include:

• Advanced periodontal disease

• Fractured or non-vital teeth

• Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (AKA “stomatitis”) 

• Canine chronic ulcerative stomatitis (CCUS)

• Pain or difficulty eating due to abnormally positioned teeth

• Many others

Other oral surgeries in cats and dogs include:

• Cleft palate repair

• Jaw fracture repair

• Oral tumor removal 

• Biopsies

• Oronasal fistula repair

Please note that Dr. De Paolo’s ability to perform jaw fracture repair, cleft palate repair, and oral tumor removal is limited as she does not have easy access to advanced imaging (CT, MRI) in your primary care veterinarian’s office. In addition, scheduling can rarely be facilitated on an emergency basis due Dr. De Paolo’s traveling practice. However, these cases can always be discussed and an effort made to help the patient in the best way possible.

Advanced periodontal surgery can be performed in very specific cases in which tooth extraction is the alternative, but the clients would like to avoid this outcome if possible. Most teeth requiring extraction are not candidates for advanced periodontal surgery due to severe bone loss. However, strategic teeth with very focal bone defects may benefit from periodontal procedures such as repositioning flaps and crown lengthening. Advanced periodontal surgery also includes gingivectomy and gingivoplasty (reducing and reshaping the gum tissue) in animals with gingival enlargement or hyperplasia (overgrowth).