#dentals

vet-and-wild here.

Maybe it's a regional thing, but where I'm at we don't consider a broken tooth an emergency. I'd be curious to know where you're located (you don't actually have to tell us, I just think what you said is really interesting) because I can't imagine any ER around me being willing to extract a tooth. They'd probably prescribe pain meds and antibiotics and recommend follow up with a general practitioner. The reason a broken tooth is concerning is that if there is exposure of the pulp cavity (where the nerves and vessels are) it can lead to potential pain and infection. Sometimes we find a broken tooth on a physical exam just by chance. We don't know when it happened and the owner is surprised to hear that it happened at all because the animal isn't showing symptoms. We still recommend removal if there is exposure of the pulp cavity, because it could lead to further problems. And tooth pain sucks.

GALTx eNews: Let's Be There For Memory!

Memory opted to retire before racing even one race so that she could begin her search for a forever home with a backyard full of nature for her to explore and hopefully another Greyhound for guidance. She loves to roll in the grass, watch squirrels through the window and go on walks. At just three years old, this youngster deserves the best of everything the world has to offer.

But life is often unfair. Our vets recently diagnosed Memory with Canine Ulcerative Paradental Stomatitis, or CUPS. CUPS is a painful disease of the mouth affecting a dog's gums, teeth, cheeks, and tongue. Memory's case is severe and our vets recommend that Memory have all of her teeth removed to manage her condition. The treatment will be accomplished in four separate surgeries, removing all the teeth of one quadrant of her mouth at a time. Each surgery is estimated to cost several thousand dollars, so times four will be quite expensive. We could really use a hand with these vet bills so that we can continue to remain true to our mantra of "No Grey Turned Awaytm" regardless of their medical needs. You can be a part of Memory's story and her journey forever home with a donation to our Giving Tuesday Facebook fundraiser or to our Dr. E. Kelly Nitsche Veterinary Care Fund on our website. No amount is too small to help Memory.

Before Memory's surgeries and recovery can begin, we need to find her an experienced foster home without cats near VCA Preston Park Animal Hospital in Dallas that can provide her transportation to the vet and post-operative care. If you think you might be able to open your home to this sweet girl during this important time in her life, please email our foster coordinators at [email protected].

Thank you to all who have already helped Memory and given her the love and support she needs. She will always remember you and your kindness.

Anonymous said to @ask-drferox: Can I ask why dental extractions are your least favorite? Is it just tedious work (removing all those TEETH, omg) or is it particularly difficult/not as straight forward as it seems (to a non-vet/dentist/doctor)?

If I do a dental in general practice I am either cleaning the teeth, or extracting teeth that are too far gone to do much else with. A clean (scale and polish) is fine, it’s not super strenuous although it requires attention to detail. It is extractions that I loathe.

Aside from technical difficulties with some teeth I have a persistent anxiety about a couple of potential events.

Teeth so rotten they have broken the jaw secondary to the osteomyelitis they cause. I have seen this happen twice, though it’s not been my own cases.

Teeth almost rotten enough to break the jaw, but then it actually breaks when you try to extract the tooth.

Breaking the lower jaw in general

Having your instrument pass through infected or frail bone of the upper jaw and entering the nasal cavity.

Having your instrument pass through the infected or frail bone of the upper jaw and entering the eye socket.

Stabbing the tongue, and its large veins on the underside, with a sharp implement.

And some teeth just test my patience trying to get those damned roots out entire.

I know these procedures are for the benefit of my patients but I cannot shake the anxiety in doing them.

My understanding from the vet was just extractions of the teeth that are inflamed if it is what he thinks it is (not full mouth extractions), but that may have been a misinterpretation. Further research into it, and I think I'm going to ask about full mouth extractions if it isn't ruled out as something else. From what I'm seeing, trying to manage it long-term without them can backfire at any time. But I am guessing I won't even know for sure until he has already been put under anesthesia. (2/?)

How do I politely go about ensuring that the person doing the procedure is experienced enough? I was seeing a lot about how you need to make sure they get the root. My clinic is great, & there is a vet there that has special interests in feline medicine & dentistry. Her credentials look good & it says she primarily does surgeries there. Should I ask about it before the cleaning/XRay/extraction appointment, or should I wait to ask about full mouth extractions? I'm lost on the logistics. (3/3)

gettingvetted here.

Every cat is an individual regarding stomatitis. Some cats only need the inflamed teeth removed and they never have another issue especially if strict medical management (immunosuppressants, superb at-home dental care) is used. Some cats will eventually need all of the teeth removed (although the canine teeth are typically left behind, since for some reason they don’t tend to be as problematic).

In general it is much more difficult to remove a healthy tooth than a diseased tooth, so it is debated whether removal of all the teeth, even if some of them are still healthy, is a good idea in stomatitis patients. I don’t think it’s wrong to do that, but it’s not my approach. Why would I lengthen the anesthesia time, cause more pain, and prolong the healing of my patient for a set of problems that may never happen?

If a clinic is offering the dental procedure, their staff is experienced enough to perform it. Why would we offer something we cannot do? It is important to remove the entire root during every extraction, not just full mouth extractions or extractions in stomatitis patients, so making sure to remove the entire root would not be something unusual surrounding stomatitis cases. It sounds like your vet knows what she’s doing. If you wanted to ask *something*, you could say that you were reading about full mouth extractions and wanted to know if it was a good idea for your cat. You could also ask how many stomatitis patients does your doctor see that end up needing full mouth extractions over time?

gettingvetted here.