This is a complete and meticulous anesthetized oral health assessment, which includes full mouth dental radiographs. A lot of oral disease occur below the gum line or is easily missed during an awake oral exam. An anesthetized, comprehensive oral health exam is necessary to fully assess the oral cavity. This exam not only includes the assessment of the teeth but also the surrounding oral tissue, bone, palate, tongue, lips, oral pharynx. At WSVDOS, we believe that an annual COHAT (anesthetized oral health exam) with scaling and polishing of the teeth above and below the gum line is vital to the overall oral health and well-being of dogs and cats.  

The goal of root canal therapy is to rid the tooth of infection while preserving functional tooth structure for the patient. Root canal therapy involves removing the pulp tissue from the tooth, disinfecting the root canal system, and placing a filler in the tooth. This is a common, non-surgical and highly successful treatment which will last for the life of the patient. Although root canal treatment can be performed on most teeth in the mouth, it is most often used on strategically important teeth, such as canine teeth, or the larger chewing teeth of the upper and lower jaw.  Treatment options for teeth with endodontic disease, like teeth with a crown fracture and pulp exposure, include root canal therapy or extraction of the tooth. Although extraction is a viable option, it involves the complete removal of the tooth which is performed surgically resulting in lengthy healing time. The benefits of root canal therapy over tooth extraction include preservation of functional tooth structure and quick recovery time. Following root canal treatment, the patient can return to normal function almost immediately.

Some tooth extractions are more complicated than others for a variety of reasons, can lead to unexpected complications or take a significant amount of time to be properly completed.  The goal of any tooth extraction is to remove all tooth structure, minimize tissue disruption and prevent iatrogenic complications.  For your referral needs, please contact WSVDOS for consultation and scheduling as you see fit for your practice.

Jaw fractures commonly occur due to trauma, however, advanced stages of dental disease which weaken the jaw bones also result in jaw fractures. Depending on the type of jaw fracture, multiple options exist for fracture repair. West Slope Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery uses minimally invasive options for fracture repair as needed.  Common repair strategies are focused on interdental wiring techniques with overlaying self-curing composite materials, maxillo-mandibular fixation and external stabilization techniques.