Dental Prophylaxis Flashcards
(50 cards)
Define prophylaxis
Uncomplicated preventative or protective treatment
What is the most common client complaint about their animals?
Halitosis: bad breath
True or false
Clients are often unaware of any dental problems occurring in their pets
True
What are some possible presenting signs for dental diseases
Weight loss Anorexia Pawing at the mouth Pain on chewing Nasal/ocular discharge Dysphagia Salivation Facial swelling/asymmetry Halitosis Vomiting Head shy Facial draining tract Only chews on one side
Why is age important in taking a history
Certain oral problems are more common in young vs older dogs
Why is breed important to know when taking a history
Small breeds, brachycephalic breeds and pure breeds are more prone to oral problems
What aspects of environmental health is important to know when taking a history
Vaccines Diets Behaviours Outdoor/indoor Access to tennis balls/bones/sticks
What types of past medical history is important to know
Renal disease Liver disease Crate anxiety Previous issues with anesthesia Any previous treatments
True or false
You should evaluate occlusion while sedate
False
Best case to evaluate as much as possible while the patient is awake. Only resort to this if the patient will not tolerate it
What is a common routine for an oral exam
Visual inspection of the head/neck
Palpate the head for: pain, swelling, mandibular joint movement, lymph nodes and the temporal mandibular joint (TMJ)
Examine lips, folds, vestibule, alveolar mucosa, gingiva (color, topography)
(Probing done under anesthesia)
Examine dentition: count teeth (deciduous/adult), wear, fractures, rotation, color, calculus/plaque buildup, pulp exposure, Caries (furcation exposure and mobility under anesthesia)
Examine occlusion
Examine: floor of mouth, lingual and palatal gingiva, palates, salivary ducts, oropharynx
After the oral exam is complete, a treatment plan should be made this could always include an
Estimate of the cost of treatment
After containing consent for the treatment a contingency plan should be made in case of
Additional problems are discovered during treatment
This provides instructions with how to proceed with treatment, attempt to call first and what to do if they do not answer (do nothing or continue on)
What else should be considered for dental treatment plans
Preoperative blood tests
IV fluids
Preoperative antibiotics
Anesthetic protocol
General anesthesia is needed to prevent ________ of fluids, calculus or other debris
Aspiration
True or false
It is possible to scale and polish teeth in an awake patient if they cannot use anesthesia
FALSE
It is impossible to scale under the gum line and do a complete dental procedure
What does dental charting and radiographs while under anesthesia provide
Complete picture of the animals oral health and what treatments are necessary
What are the 11 steps to a complete prophy
1) preliminary examination/evaluation
2) supragingival gross calculus removal
3) dental radiographs
4) periodontal probing and charting
5) scaling and subgingival calculus removal
6) detection of missed plaque and calculus
7) polishing
8) sulcus irrigation and fluoride (maybe)
9) periodontal diagnostics and extractions
10) final charting
11) client education/home care plan
What are you looking for in a initial examination/evaluation of the mouth
Color of gingiva Grade of gingivitis Presence of gingival hyperplasia and oral masses Missing or retained teeth Malocclusions Fractures, pulp exposure, excess wear Mobile teeth (should be extracted) Abnormal teeth
Prior Removal of gross supragingival calculus, what should you apply to the teeth
Chlorhexidine to all teeth surface
This reduces the bacteria in the mouth and results in fewer bacteria entering the blood stream
What can be used to remove supragingival gross calculus
Hand scalers (pull stroke method)
Calculus removal forceps (cleaves off calculus) (use caution to prevent slab fractures)
Ultrasonic or sonic scalers to break calculus (use caution to prevent etching)
True or false
You should minimize patient manipulation/movement
True
In one position do as many of the surfaces easily possible without moving the patient and then flip
How should you hold power scalers
Light hold
Hand piece should be balanced in the hand
Hand piece does the work, not you
Modified pen grip
Balance/use fulcrum with middle finger
Loop the cord if it has one to reduce stress on the hand
Describe the ultrasonic technique
Do not use the tip, use the side of the tool (etching)
Start with sweeping cross strokes and then move in various directions
Keep it moving to prevent thermal damage (no more than 10-12 seconds)
For furcations: there are special tips or hand tools made for them
Do not press too hard (thermal damage and etching)
For ultrasonic scalers: Higher power settings are used for ___ tips, lower power settings are used for ___ tips
Broad
Thin
