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| We care for your pets as if they were our own. |
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| Dentistry |
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| Root Canals |
| Root canal therapy can be done on our pets just like in humans. A root canal is done when a tooth has died. Causes for the death of a tooth are several, but the most common cause is a fracture of the tooth. If the crown of the tooth fractures and the pulp tissue is exposed, the tooth dies. The infected root canal contents then “leak” infection into the bone around the tips of the root. This can lead to an abscess forming in the bone. Even if an abscess does not develop, the bacteria sitting in the bone are not good for the health of the pet. As a result, there are only two options available. The first is to extract the tooth. This solves the problem, but the pet is left with a missing tooth. Depending on which tooth is extracted, it can be significant for the pet. Root canal therapy can be done. With a root canal procedure the dead and infected root canal contents are removed and the root canal is refilled with a material that will seal off the inside. This prevents the bone infection around the tips of the roots. Root canal therapy is successful >90%. |
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| Periodontal Therapy |
Routine dental cleanings and home tooth brushing is the mainstay of oral health. We recommend performing a dental cleaning on your pet yearly. However, depending on the condition of your pet's mouth, more frequent intervals may be needed.
If your pet is suffering from periodontal disease, additional procedures can be utilized to bring your pet's mouth back to health. A treatment category called "Guided Tissue Regeneration" is used in cases where attachment loss can be regained. Attachment loss is when the bone and gum tissue around the tooth is lost because of periodontal disease. Guided tissue regeneration is a group of procedures that can be performed to regain attachment of the bone and periodontal ligament to the root. |
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| If the tooth has good bone attachment, but the gum tissue has recessed, the gum tissue can be harvested by the tooth and used to cover the exposed root. |
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| Oral Surgery |
| Oral surgery encompasses many different surgical procedures that can be done in the mouth. This ranges from surgical tooth extractions, to repairing fistulas, to removing tumors in the mouth. |
| Orthodontics |
| When a dog presents with a tooth or teeth in the wrong position, this can lead to significant pain for the patient. Instead of extracting the offending teeth, often the teeth can be moved into the proper position. By doing this, the pet keeps the teeth for normal function and avoids an extraction. |
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| Restorations |
| After a dog fractures their tooth, and after the root canal is performed, there is a risk that the dog may fracture the tooth again. Full metal crowns can be placed to protect the tooth from further damage. Most often, metal crowns are utilized due to their strength, durability and the fact that very little tooth structure needs to be removed to place the crown. |
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