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NorthStar VETS Video
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Dentistry
Welcome to Dentistry |
Case Study
If you're an animal lover (which we think you are), then you may believe the old adage that a dog's mouth is 10 times cleaner than a humans. When you think about all of the situations our pets get into, it's very difficult to believe that a human who brushes 2-3 times daily has a dirtier mouth than the dog who drinks out of the toilet and picks through the garbage. We hate to dispel that myth entirely, particularly because we love when our companions show us affection. However, we are going to shed some light on the truth.
Truth be told, your pets mouth can be as clean as you want it to be. Recent studies suggest that the healthier the mouth, the healthier the pet. However, our furry friends require our help to remain healthy. After all, they can't drive themselves to see the veterinarian for a cleaning, and you certainly will not catch them with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Therefore, they need your help.
Gum Disease (gingivitis and/or its more severe counterpart periodontitis), if left untreated can cause tooth decay and is the most diagnosed disease in cats and dogs. Your beloved pet could lose its teeth, which would make it challenging to do the things they love to do. By the age of four years old, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats will show signs of dental disease. Once the bacteria gains access to internal organs through the diseased gums, more serious health problems like heart, liver, and kidney disease may follow. Additionally, you can expect to be on the receiving end of that horrendous oral odor, better known as doggy breath.
Seeing your regular veterinarian for regular dental cleanings and check-ups is part of good pet care.
NorthStar VETS is proud to offer this specialty service to your special friend for the procedures outside the realm of routine dental care:
Endodontic treatment
- Root canal therapy
- Vital pulp therapy
- Surgical root canal therapy
Periodontal surgery
- Professional Dental Cleanings, including closed and open root planing
- Advanced periodontal surgery
- Crown lengthening procedures for tooth fractures that extend below the gingival margin
Oral surgery
- Surgical extractions, including full mouth extractions for stomatitis patients
- Minimally invasive jaw fracture repair
- Oral surgical oncology-oral tumor biopsy, mandibulectomy, maxillectomy
- Repair of hard and soft palate defects
- Muscle biopsy for suspected masticatory myositis cases
Prosthodontics
- Full metal crowns for fractured teeth
- Three-quarter crowns for cage-biter's wear
Radiography
- Dental radiography
- CT scan of head/neck
Orthodontics for a dog whose bite was worse than her bark
Misty, a 7-month-old Cairn Terrier, presented for evaluation of abnormal mouth movements. Awake oral examination revealed abnormal positioning of the right lower canine tooth which was preventing full closure of the mouth due to contact with the roof of the mouth. If not treated, the malocclusion would result in abnormal wear of the teeth. Also, a defect in the palate (an oronasal fistula) can occur due to chronic trauma caused by the malpositioned tooth.
Options for treatment include 1) extraction of the malpositioned tooth, 2) crown reduction of the canine tooth and vital pulp therapy of the tooth under sterile conditions, or 3) placement of an orthodontic device. Extraction is the least desirable option since this tooth makes up such a large portion of the lower jaw. Misty's owner opted for placement of an inclined plane passive orthodontic device to move the tooth to a proper position.
Whenever an orthodontic abnormality is diagnosed, the ethical aspects of treatment must be discussed. Orthodontic conditions often show breed predilections, suggesting a genetic component. Therefore, we recommend spay or neuter prior to, or at the time of, the orthodontic procedure.
In Misty's case, the right upper third incisor required extraction to make space for the larger, more functionally important right lower canine tooth. Then a plastic composite material was used to fabricate a "sliding board" to allow for gradual movement of the canine tooth to a more normal position. The device engages the mandibular canine teeth when the mouth is nearly closed, resulting in slow, lateral movement of the canine teeth, guiding the tooth to its normal space. This device requires good home care (brushing to keep the device clean) and may become dislodged if dogs are allowed to chew on hard items while the device is in place. The device may be kept in the mouth as a retainer once the teeth have moved to their desired position, or a retainer may be placed between the mandibular canine teeth to prevent drifting of the teeth back to their original position.
This technology relieved Misty's uncomfortable bite by moving the malpositioned canine tooth, while avoiding extraction of this functionally important tooth. Misty's bite is now as good as her bark!
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