DENTISTRY
can provide additional home care to control
periodontal disease progression. The periodontal gels Clindoral (TriLogic Pharma) and
Doxirobe (Zoetis) are not available in South
Africa, human equivalents will need to be
used. Ed.
• Surgery can save teeth if the tooth and patient are appropriate. Operculectomy (removal of the gingiva over a partially erupted
tooth crown) is indicated in a young dog or
cat (less than 8 months old) whose tooth is
expected to fully erupt once the obstructing gingiva is excised (Figs 6A-6C). Open
flap exposure for cleaning and débridement
is used to expose a tooth root in selective
cases where the periodontal pocket extends
greater than 5 mm and the client is committed
to save the pet’s teeth despite a guarded prognosis.
4. Endodontic care
• Vital pulp therapy can be performed when a
complicated tooth fracture is acute (no longer
than two days). The treatment usually results
in a vital tooth with a good prognosis. If the
fractured tooth with pulp exposure has been
present for more than two days, extraction or
Figure 7A. A complicated left maxillary canine fracture in a cat.
Figure 6A. A missing mandibular first premolar evident on oral
examination.
Figure 7B. Application of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) on vital
pulp.
Figure 6B. The premolar is present on an intraoral radiograph.
Figure 6C. After an operculectomy, the premolar erupts normally.
Figure 7C. The restored vital canine.
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