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CHAPTER 15

Dental Skills for the Veterinary

Assistant

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Provide essential dental education to clients
• Identify and maintain all dental instruments and equipment
• Identify basic tooth anatomy and utilize directional terminology
• Identify each tooth using Triadan or anatomical numbering system
• Assist with dental prophylaxis by charting oral examination
• Identify head types of dogs and cats
• Determine approximate eruption age from dentition
• Recite dental formulas for juvenile and adult dogs and cats, and
pocket pets
• Develop and file dental films
• Conduct a thorough dental discharge appointment

Assistant’s Role in Veterinary Dental Anatomy
Dentistry A basic understanding of dental anatomy is important

when assisting with charting, cleaning, and client educa-
Oral disease is one of the most prevalent diseases in dogs tion. Figure 15.1 shows the exterior and interior of the
and cats. Eighty percent of adult dogs and 70% of adult tooth. The bulk of the mature tooth is composed of
cats have some form of oral disease. Dental problems are dentin. The portion of the tooth above the gumline is
one of the top three pet concerns among owners, with covered by enamel and is called the crown. Behind the
calculus and gingivitis the most common conditions gum tissue is the neck of the tooth, and below the gum-
diagnosed by veterinarians regardless of the age of the line the dentin is covered by a layer of cementum.
animal. The veterinary assistant has a vital role in veteri- Cementum helps to hold the tooth in the socket. In the
nary dentistry. Dental cleaning, charting, instrument center of the tooth is the pulp chamber. The pulp
care, and client education falls on the shoulders of the chamber contains the blood supply and nerve system for
veterinary technician and assistant. Dental care is an the tooth. The tooth is held in place in the jaw by
important part of patient care. the periodontium. The periodontium consists of the

Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant, Fourth Edition. Teresa F. Sonsthagen.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Companion website: www.wiley.com/go/sonsthagen/tasks 283