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What
is involved?
History
and physical exam- This provides the
overall status of your pet's oral and physical
condition. A detailed history can indicate
specific dental issues. The manner in which your
pet chews its food may be altered by an underlying
systemic condition, causing abnormal wear to the
incisors. Impaired cardiopulmonary function can
effect anesthesia protocols and should be carefully
managed. It is vital that we note the presence of
any oral/facial enlargements, draining tracts, lymph
node enlargement, altered eating behaviours, a history
of chewing fences or thunderstorm anxiety. Sometimes
antibiotic treatment is instituted before a complete
dental prophylaxis is carried out.
Blood
screening-
This is a blood test that is run prior to an anesthetic
that provides information on your pet's health that may
influence the safety of the anesthetic or
procedure. It includes red and white cell counts,
platelet numbers (clotting ability), kidney function,
liver function, blood sugar and protein levels. A
small blood sample is collected from your pet and tested
in our laboratory providing results within an hour
thereby allowing the veterinarian time to review the
data prior to beginning the anesthetic process.
IV
fluid support-
There
appears to be some risk associated with lowered blood
pressures during anesthesia, and subsequent development
of liver and kidney problems later in life. Intravenous
fluids help maintain blood pressure and internal organ
function while your pet is undergoing a procedure
requiring anesthetic. An Intravenous catheter will
be placed into the foreleg prior to anesthesia.
Initial
oral survey- Once your pet
has been anesthetized, we look for fractured, mobile or
discoloured teeth, oral tumors and essentially, anything
out of the ordinary.
 Supragingival
scaling- This is the most
visible step of the dental process, but of least
importance. Typically this will involve a
combination of ultrasonic scaling and
hand instrumentation. It is the removal of
calculus and plaque from the surfaces of teeth above the
gum line.
Subgingival
scaling- This is the least
visible step but the most important part of the
procedure. It is the removal
of calculus and plaque from the surfaces of teeth below
the gum line.
Polishing-
removes irregularities created by scaling and slows the
accumulation of future plaque and calculus.
Lavage
of the gingival sulcus- removes
infectious debris and foreign material from underneath
the gum line. Polishing paste under the gum line can be
very irritating to the gingival tissues if not rinsed
away.
Fluoride
treatment- Fluoride
strengthens enamel and helps desensitize exposed root
surfaces and exposed dentin. The application of
fluoride is not always a necessary component of your
pet's procedure.
Complete
charting of all pathology- Charting
helps keep track of areas requiring radiographs and
further treatment. It is necessary to evaluate the
progression of the patient’s disease over time.
Dental
radiographs- Radiographs
allow for a comprehensive view of existing pathology,
thereby determining the plan for treatment. They
are used for the following purposes:
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If
teeth are missing or mobile.
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The
confirmation of proper extraction.
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To
follow progression of pathology and/or periodontal
disease.
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To
support treatment decisions and provide accurate
client communication.
Home
care instructions- We
will provide a detailed account of your pet's procedure
as well as our recommendations and instructions for home
care. A follow up visit may be indicated to assess
the response to treatment, we will further demonstrate
the home care recommendations and clarify instructions
as necessary.
Dental
Care Products
Levels
of Dental Treatment
The assessment of
your pet's oral health will indicate how intensive the
recommended procedure will be.
Full
Dental Prophylaxis and Cleaning
This level of
treatment is applied when mild to moderate tartar and
gingivitis is apparent and no extractions are anticipated.
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Pre-anesthetic
examination.
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Pre-anesthetic
medication including sedative and pain relief. |
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Up
to 45 minutes gas anesthesia using isoflurane, a
safe, modern anesthetic. |
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Anesthetic
monitoring by a licensed Animal Health
Technologist/Technician. |
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Complete
oral examination by a veterinarian. |
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A
dental prophylaxis/cleaning consisting of 2 to 3
units of time:
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Scaling
removes plaque and enamel and helps prevent
future accumulation.
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Fluoride
treatment.
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Hospital
stay and care for the day, including
post-anesthetic observation.
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Follow-up
dental assessment in 10 to 14 days.
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$301.65
- $330.35 + GST
Bloodwork,
intravenous fluid support, antibiotics and pain
medication may be recommended / required.
Wellness
Profile: Includes red and white blood
cell counts, platelet numbers (clotting ability),
kidney function, liver function, blood sugar and
protein levels.
Intravenous
Support:
Intravenous fluids help maintain blood pressure and
internal organ function as well as providing direct
access for medication administration.
Should
your pet require oral surgery, see next section
Oral
Surgery
This
involves the surgical extraction of severely diseased
teeth as well as gum surgery. Dental
radiographs and nerve blocks are often involved as
well.
This
level of treatment applies in the following cases:
Periodontal disease may be
evident, extractions likely. Includes the
items listed under Full Dental Prophylaxis and Cleaning
plus additional anesthesia as well as dental radiographs
and nerve blocks if required.
Severe periodontal disease evident, several
extractions likely. Includes the items
listed under Full Dental Prophylaxis and Cleaning plus
additional anesthesia as well as an allowance for
several major extractions, nerve blocks and several
dental radiographs.
*One
Unit = $128.60 - $185.95 (including additional
anesthetic time) + GST
x
_________ (Number of units anticipated for your pet’s
treatment).
*It
is impossible to accurately predict the number and
complexity of extractions required before performing a
complete oral exam under anesthetic. You will be given
the opportunity to approve or decline any additional
unanticipated work at the time of the procedure.
The
Process: What To Expect
Unless
otherwise instructed, owners are advised that pets must be
fasted prior to anesthesia. This means they should
not be fed meals/snacks after 8:00 pm the evening prior to
the procedure and water should be removed early (6:30 am)
on the morning of the procedure. A small morsel for
medication administration is acceptable if necessary.
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On
the morning of the procedure please give all
regular/current medications as directed unless
otherwise instructed.
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If
regular or recently prescribed medication is required
during the hospitalization period, please bring these
at the time of admission.
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If
a special diet is required during hospitalization,
please bring a small portion at the time of admission.
On the day
of the scheduled procedure your pet will be admitted to
our hospital between 7:00 and 8:30 am. A blood
sample* will be collected for immediate analysis
(unless performed at an earlier date) and an intravenous
catheter* will be placed in your pet's foreleg to
administer fluid support while he or she is anesthetized.
The veterinary dental team will then perform the necessary
procedure while your pet is monitored by our veterinary
technicians.
Once the
procedure is complete, your pet then recovers from
anesthesia in a warm, comfortable area under constant
observation. Post-treatment care instructions
concerning your pet's individual needs will be provided.
Patients are
released from our hospital when they are completely
recovered and able to physically and cognitively function
in a normal manner. Each pet responds differently to
the anesthetic process and hospitalization time may vary.
Most pets will be hospitalized until late afternoon or
early evening unless a longer period is deemed necessary.
The need for
follow up visits is determined on a case-by-case basis as
it is dependent upon the treatment applied and your pet's
response.
*If
applicable. See
Preanesthetic
& Surgical Considerations
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