www.NevadaVetDentistry.com
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CAH
Dental Philosophy |
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Several factors separate our dental practice from all other practices in Northern Nevada. Dr. John Koehm has taken hundreds of hours of special dental classes in both veterinary and human dentistry. He annually attends an excess of 80 hours of continuing education in order to expand his knowledge and skills. Dr. Koehm is the only Fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry in the state of Nevada.
Our technicians have been trained through the program of the American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians and perform procedures very similar to those performed by dental hygienists in human dentistry. They completely examine the mouth and treat each tooth individually. Each tooth is probed at four locations around its perimeter to check for periodontal disease. All results are charted for disease monitoring. The teeth are cleaned above and below the gums with ultrasonic instruments. Dental X-rays are taken to disclose the 60 % of dental disease that is hidden beneath the gums.
Our dental equipment and materials are the same as those used in human dentistry. In fact, we utilize digital dental radiography, very rare in veterinary dentistry and only used by 10-15 % of human dentists today. This state-of-the-art equipment allows us to diagnose and treat dental disease that would otherwise be undetected.
We routinely perform such procedures as oral surgery, repair of
fractured teeth, root canal therapy, vital pulp therapy,
restorations, crowns, periodontal surgery, orthodontics (not to
make a pretty smile, but to relieve pain), and extractions.
Periodontal disease is the most common disease of ANY KIND in
dogs and cats. 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over two years of age
suffer from periodontal disease. Periodontal infection can
easily get into the blood stream where it travels to the heart,
liver, and kidneys. By treating and controlling dental disease
we are able to add years to your pets life. |
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Dentistry
Services |
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Dr. Koehm's Case of the Month
Read
the Archives
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Dental Anesthesia
Why does my pet need to
anesthetized to get its teeth cleaned?
Pet owners are naturally concerned when anesthesia is required for their pet. However, performing a dental prophylaxis on an
non anaesthetized pet is inappropriate for the following reasons:
1. Dental tartar is firmly adhered to the tooth surface. Scaling to remove tartar is accomplished using ultrasonic and sonic power scalers, plus hand instruments that must have a sharp working edge to be used effectively. Even slight head movement by the patient could result in injury to the oral tissues of the patient, and the operator may be bitten if the patient reacts adversely.
2. Professional dental scaling includes scaling the tooth surfaces both above and below the gingival margin (gum line), followed by dental polishing. The most critical part of a dental scaling procedure is scaling the tooth surface that is within the gingival pocket (the subgingival space between the gum and the root), where periodontal disease is most active. Removal of dental tartar only on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet's health and provides a false sense of accomplishment. The effect is purely cosmetic.
3. Inhalation anesthesia using a cuffed endotracheal tube provides three important advantages: the patient's cooperation with a procedure it does not understand, treatment of affected dental tissues during the procedure with elimination of pain resulting from examination, and protection of the airway and lungs from accidental aspiration.
4. A complete oral examination, which is an important part of a professional dental scaling procedure, is not possible in an unanesthetized patient. The surfaces of the teeth facing the tongue cannot be examined, and areas of disease and discomfort are likely to be missed.
Safe use of an anesthetic or sedative in a dog or cat requires evaluation of the general health and size of the patient to determine the appropriate drug and dose and continual monitoring of the patient. Veterinarians are trained in all of these procedures. Prescribing or administering anesthetic or sedative drugs by a non-veterinarian is illegal and can be very dangerous.
Although anesthesia will never be 100% risk-free, modern anesthetic and patient evaluation techniques used in veterinary hospitals minimize the risks, and millions of dental scaling procedures are safely performed each year.
To minimize the need for professional dental scaling procedures and to maintain optimal oral health, the AVDC recommends daily dental home care from an early age. This should include brushing or use of other effective techniques to retard accumulation of dental plaque, such as dental diets and chew materials. This, combined with periodic examination of the patient by a veterinarian and dental scaling under anesthesia, will optimize lifelong oral health for dogs and cats.
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Advanced
Dentistry |
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Intraoral digital radiography
Endodontics
Periodontics
Prosthodontics
Orhodontics
Oral Surgery |
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Achievement |
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Julie
McMahon, one of our leaders, has taken another giant step on her
ladder of success. Julie
has worked in our Oral Health Department as our primary dental
technician since February 2002.
Since then she has gained extensive knowledge and
experience in endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics,
restorative dentistry, and oral surgery.
Julie recently reached the pinnacle of her chosen field,
becoming a member of the
Academy
of
Veterinary Dental Technicians
. After two years
of painstaking study, credentialing, and rigorous examination,
Julie was rewarded with membership in this elite group of only
28 members nationwide. The
next time you see Julie, give her a High Five.
She deserves it!
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