1. Veterinary Dentistry
Chapter 34, pg
CTVT

2. Objectives Recognize a patient’s dental health status
Perform techniques, as prescribed by a veterinarian, to promote and maintain dental health
*Perform routine dental prophylaxis
*Understand client education regarding home care

3. Why is Veterinary Dentistry Important?
Increasing number of canines and felines presenting with oral disease by age 5. (American Veterinary Dental Society)
Companion animals are living longer
Dental disease can lead to:
Anorexia
Chronic pain syndromes  Demeanor changes
Organ disease

4. Why is it exciting?!

5. Ethical and Legal Aspects
The level of dental care that a veterinary technician may provide varies from state to state.
The American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) considers it appropriate for the veterinarian to delegate maintenance dental care and certain dental tasks to vet techs.

6. Dental Tasks for Veterinary Technicians
Oral examination and charting
Taking and developing dental radiographs
Professional dental cleaning “Dental prophylaxis”
Taking impressions and making models
Performing nonsurgical, subgingival root planning
Client education
*Procedures performed by veterinary technicians must not result in alterations in the shape, structure, or positional location of teeth in the dental arch.

7. Veterinary Dental Organizations
Opportunities for advanced training in dentistry:
NAVTA responsible for governing and overseeing Veterinary Technician Specialists (VTS).
Anesthesia, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, dentistry, behavior, zoo, etc
Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians (AVDT) credentials LVTs as specialists in dentistry
Requires 3000 hours experience then…secure a mentor, maintain case logs, write case reports, pass a specialty exam, and attend extra CE courses.
See for further info.

8. Normal Dentition & Dental Anatomy

9. Tooth Classification
Brachyodont teeth: small crown with long, well-developed roots; teeth do not continue to grow or erupt throughout animal’s life.
Ex: humans, carnivores, pigs
Diphyodonts have two sets of teeth: deciduous, then permanent.
Hypsodont teeth: long crown height and continue to erupt for most the animal’s lifetime.
Ex: horses, rodents, and lagomorphs

10. Horse: Brachyodont or Hypsodont?

11. Rat: Brachyodont or Hypsodont?

12. Dog: Brachyodont or Hypsodont?

13. Oral Anatomy Upper teeth embedded in maxilla (upper arch).
Lower teeth anchored in mandible (lower arch).
Front, upper teeth are called incisors and are housed in the premaxilla (a.k.a. incisive bone).
Maxilla houses the upper canine teeth, premolars and molars (cheek teeth).
Palatine bone comprises most of the hard palate.

14. Dental Morphology
Incisors: in front of the mouth and are used for gnawing and grooming.
Canine Teeth: long and used for grasping and tearing
Premolars and Molars: are used for shearing and grinding.

15. Maxillary Arcade R

16. Mandibular Arcade R

17. Dentition
Mammals show great variety in dentition (numbers and types of teeth).
Dental formulas are used to classify the normal dentitions of different animal species.

18. Normal Dentition of Dogs and Cats
Puppies have 28 deciduous (primary / milk) teeth.
Eruption occurs between 3 to 6 weeks of age
Canine and incisors first; no molars
Dogs have 42 permanent teeth.
Eruption occurs between 3 to 5 months
Kittens have 26 deciduous teeth.
Eruption occurs at about 3 to 6 weeks
Cats have 30 permanent teeth.
Eruption occurs about 3 to 6 months.

19. Normal Dentition of the Dog and Cat42 30
upper
I C P M
lower

20. Tooth Morphology (Outer)
Crown = part of the tooth that is visible
in the mouth above the gum line.
Shiny enamel covers the crown of the tooth.
Hardest substance in the body.
Prevents tooth from being invaded by bacteria and acids.
If destroyed, will not regrow.
The root is the tooth structure below
the gum line and is covered by cementum.
The tip of the root is the apex of the tooth.

21. Tooth Morphology (Inner)
Dentin is the substance that composes the bulk of the tooth.
Harder than bone but not as hard as enamel.
Lies under the enamel and cementum.
Pulp cavity is located within the central core of the tooth and contains pulp.
Pulp is composed of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue and produces dentin.
Pulp chamber is the portion of the pulp cavity located in the crown.
Root canal is the portion located beneath the gum line.

22. Covers the crown Above the gum line. Below the gum line.
Very hard bone that makes
up the majority of tooth.
Above the gum line.
Within the dentin, made up
of nerves, blood vessels,
and connective tissue
Chamber
Root canal
Gingiva
Covers the root
Below the gum line.
Shock absorbing
lining; attaches
tooth to the
bony socket.
Bony socket

23. Tooth Anatomy

24. Triadan System Refers to teeth using a numeric system
100 series: Right maxillary quadrant
200 series: Left maxillary quadrant
300 series: Left mandibular quadrant
400 series: Right mandibular quadrant
Each tooth has its own predictable number
Start with the most rostral tooth and move caudal
If tooth is not present, skip that number

25. Triadan System- CanineP

26. The mandibular first molar
The mandibular first molar. The X’s indicate the cervical (gingival) area of the tooth.
Area between roots of multi-rooted teeth

27. Triadan System-Feline
Tip: Canines always end in 4; the first molar always ends in 9

28. History and Extraoral Examination
Dental procedures require general anesthesia
Obtain a proper history
Ask about general medical info, medications, nutrition/treats, toys
Extraoral exam
Palpate muscles of the face
Retropulse the eyelids
Look for symmetric depth and firmness
Look for ocular and nasal discharge
Palpate submandibular lymphnodes

29. Intraoral Examination
The entire mouth should be evaluated:
1. Soft tissue
Mucosa- should be pink or pigmented; no lesions seen
Two salivary ducts bumps dorsal to max. 4th PM/1st M
Hard palate- covered in rugae
Incisive papilla- midline, caudal to incisors
Pharynx- evaluate for inflammation/neoplasia
Tongue- chewing lesions present?
2. Teeth
Missing, fx, mobility, etc
3. Periodontium
Inflammation, pockets, bone loss, etc
*Radiographs often necessary

30. Normal vs. Abnormal

31. The Periodontum
The periodontium is the area where the tooth meets the gum.
To attach the tooth to the jaw and provide support, resistant to normal, functional forces.
It includes:
Gingiva
Periodontal ligament
Cementum
Alveolar bone

32. The Periodontum Gingiva = gum tissue surrounding teeth
Gingival sulcus is the shallow groove between the tooth and the gingiva.
Normal depth is 0-3 mm in canines; up to 1 mm in felines
Called a periodontal pocket when abnormal.

33. The Peridontium
Cementum is a bone-like tissue that covers the root surface. It is stronger than bone but not as strong as enamel.
It is capable of repairing itself.
Alveolar bone forms the tooth socket.
Blood vessels and nerves run through the alveolar bone
Periodontal ligament attaches cementum to the alveolar bone.