Preventative Teeth Cleaning and Assessments (PTCAs)
Preventative Teeth Cleaning and Assessments (PTCAs) are for your awake pet! PTCAs are utilized to help minimize bacteria build up in your pet through frequent teeth cleanings in-between regular anesthetic dentals & x-rays.
PTCA’s are not to replace nor delay the American Dental Associations recommendation for a yearly anesthetized COHAT. PTCA’s are primarily utilized to allow more superior dental / gum health and as a diagnostic to evaluate for visual crown or superficial gum disease. Many clients do not have the time or resources to clean their pet’s teeth on a daily basis and even if they do, just like humans, recommendation for a deep cleaning and dental radiographs on a regular basis is made. PTCAs are performed by licensed nurses only. A comprehensive annual physical exam must be performed once a year before pet may be scheduled for PTCA.
PTCA’s will be recommended starting between 6 months and 1 year of age. PTCA’s should be recommended every 6 months as an adult and potentially more often when a senior / super senior due to these animals typically having underlying health conditions, more periodontal bone loss, wear with age, etc.
For patient safety, we do not perform sedations for PTCA’s. Sedations without intubation may increase likelihood of inhalation of bacteria and debris since patients have a decreased reflex to swallow and protect airway as they do when they are awake.
Oral Surgery (COHAT)
The first anesthetized Complete Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) is recommended at 3 years of age or sooner if felt necessary due to dental concerns such as over-crowding, fractures, etc. After the first COHAT, anesthetized dentals are recommended based on the doctor’s discretion based on their comprehensive annual evaluation, evaluating risk vs benefit of anesthesia and dental health.
A COHAT will include a thorough dental examination, teeth cleaning, and polishing to remove tartar and plaque that causes periodontal disease. This is done while your dog is under general anesthesia.
Once anesthetized, your veterinarian, with the help of veterinary assistants, will thoroughly examine the mouth, noting abnormalities in the medical record. A dental probe will be used to evaluate gum bleeding and identify periodontal pockets where food can accumulate and decay can occur, if not properly cared for.
How are my dog’s teeth cleaned?
After a thorough examination of your dog’s mouth, tooth scaling will be performed, using both hand and ultrasonic scalers, to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. The tartar below the gum line causes the most significant periodontal disease, so its removal is important.
After scaling, the teeth are polished to remove microscopic scratches and decrease the rate of subsequent plaque build-up. Sealer application may be recommended to decrease plaque accumulation.
Why can’t plaque and tartar be removed with a human dental scaler?
Although you can remove some of the accumulated plaque and tartar above the gum line in dogs that are cooperative, there are problems with doing this:
- Only the visible tartar above the gum line is removed. This leaves the plaque and tartar below the gum line which will continue to cause periodontal problems.
- It is neither possible nor safe to clean the inner surfaces of the teeth properly in a conscious dog.
- The use of any instrument on the tooth enamel will cause microscopic scratches on the surface which will ultimately damage the tooth surface, leading to further disease – this is the reason your dental hygienist always polishes your teeth after removing tartar with dental instruments.
- If your dog moves suddenly, the sharp instrument may cut the gums, causing pain and bleeding
Since it can be difficult to predict the extent of dental disease before the procedure, it is imperative that your veterinarian is able to reach you during the procedure to discuss any additional treatment that may be necessary.
