The Oxford Veterinary Hospital Dental Process

Complete Dental Assessment and treatment always requires anesthesia. We take the same precautions necessary when any surgery is being scheduled.

1. Pre-anesthetic blood testing prior to administration of anesthesia to detect conditions that may contribute to complications during anesthesia and surgery. A recent Comprehensive Wellness Profile or other recent blood work may be sufficient. All dogs must be on a heartworm preventative. Dogs over 6 months that have not been on a heartworm preventative will have a heartworm test.
2. Insertion of an intravenous catheter and administration of intravenous fluid during this procedure to maintain blood pressure and decrease the quantity of anesthetic agents needed, thereby increasing safety and speeding recovery.

Ultrasonic Cleaning and Polishing (A full dental assessment is done with every dental cleaning.)

1. All patients will have removal of all tartar and plaque by scaling and polishing. This is done with appropriate magnification and lighting to ensure removal of all tartar not visible to the naked eye.
2. Dental assessment requires careful charting of the entire mouth with careful inspection of every tooth and surrounding tissue for periodontal disease, fractured teeth, draining tracts, missing teeth, tumors, maloclusions, and loose teeth.
3. Dental radiographs are usually necessary to complete the assessment of abnormal findings and accurately plan a course of treatment.
4. Animals with more advanced disease may require:
   • Extraction of any loose or unsalvageable teeth.
   • Gingivectomy - Excision of proliferative tissue at base of teeth.
   • Biopsy - Oral cancer can occur in the diseased mouth and cannot always be visually distinguished from infection.
   • Periodontal treatment - application of repository in pocket between gum and teeth.
   • Antibiotic Therapy- Oral antibiotics often are dispense and started three days before the dental procedures are scheduled.

When you bring your pet in for dental care, understand that you are giving the attending doctor permission to perform all tasks deemed beneficial and essential for the health of your pet. Many problems cannot be detected until after the animal is fully anesthetized. Be sure to be available via phone for discussion of treatment options.

Many procedures require more extensive work than allowed during your scheduled dental cleaning and therefore will need to be scheduled on another day. We may refer some problems to a specialist if necessary.

---

Oxford Veterinary Hospital Dental Services:

• Complete Oral Assessment including Dental Charting
• Ultrasonic Cleaning and Polishing
• Dental Radiology
• General and Local Anesthesia
• Periodontal Surgical Procedures:
  • Root Planning
  • Gingivectomy
  • Flap surgery
• Routine Extractions (Our goal is to always find ways to save each tooth.)
• Surgical Extractions
  • Single and Double
  • Triple Root
  • Canine Retained Deciduous Teeth
  • Feline Full Mouth (for untreatable LPS- Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Stomatitis) Oral Nasal Fistula Repair
• Crown Reduction
• Vital Pulpectomy
• Jaw Fracture Repair
• Biopsy
• Oral Tumor Removal
• Sublinqual Salivary Mucoceole
• Orthodontic Correction of Malocclusions