Veterinary dental nursing procedures

1. Veterinary dental nursing procedures PATIENT ADMISSION & DISCHARGE

2. Patient Admission • Prior consultation with vet? • Decide on allowed delay between last visit and admission by nurse (without vet) • Gather records • Mostly computerised nowadays • Maybe radiographs, pathology, referral 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

3. Routine vs Non-routine Dental • Routine • Descaling • Polishing teeth • Gingivitis • Non-routine • Periodontitis • Extractions required • Endodontics required • Aged animals dental prophylaxis ‘prophy’ 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

4. Authorisation • Ensure owner has a full understanding of the procedures likely to be performed. Make it clear that general anaesthesia will be required. • Mention the possibility of gingival surgery, root planing, radiographs and extractions. 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

5. Authorisation • Authorisation form as for routine anaesthesia and surgery • May also require authorisation for • Pathology • Radiography • Surgery 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

6. È Owner Contact • Contact phone number/s required • To advise of unexpected procedures/costs during dental • To advise of discharge time 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

7. Before Patient Discharge • The patient must be • Clean • Dry • Odour free 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

8. Discharge Instructions • Sometimes by nurse (if has been routine) • Make a time? • Consult room • Explain procedures performed • Explain diet, brushing, dentrifices • Medications • Sutures • Follow up appointments 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

9. Patient Discharge • Bestto bring out animal only after discharge instructions have been given • So owner not distracted by reunion with pet 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

10. Explaining Procedures • Use models of teeth • Maybe show patients’s dental chart 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

11. Sutures • Usually dissolving sutures are used • So don’t require removal • But check with veterinarian anyway 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

12. Medication • Ensure the owner understands use: • Antibiotics • Analgesics • Other 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

13. Post-dental diet • Soft food for 1 week • Meat strips may be better than canned or dry food 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

14. Brushing • Is beneficial if tolerated • Ideally daily (as for people) • Every 2-3 days also helps • Can start gentle brushing one week after gingival surgery • Reward for compliance • Plenty of praise 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

15. Tooth brush • Must be soft 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

16. Pet Toothpaste • Safe to swallow 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

17. Brushing technique • Relaxed environment • Initially handling head a mouth only • Then ‘finger brushing’ with meat broth/tuna fluid • Several days toothpaste on teeth only • Impress toothpaste into bristles • Hold mouth closed • Brush in circular pattern 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

18. Brushing technique • Gum line most important 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

19. Oral antiseptics • Chlorhexidine gel twice daily • For first week • Applied to a gauze pad then wiped into each side of mouth 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

20. Other oral treatments • Maxiguard® • Zn as an antibacterial, may heal gums 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

21. Follow-up appointments • Regular check ups to check for recurrence • If healthy mouth > 12 mth check • If early periodontitis > 6 mth check • If severe periodontitis > 3 mth check • Encourage & advise owner 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

22. Commercial diet 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

23. Chew Toys 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

24. Other dentrifices 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

25. Other dentrifices • First ones under supervision • Can choke • Can even break teeth on some 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

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28. S Em dog 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

29. Raw Meaty Bones • Some dogs may never require dental work if they eat a diet containing foods that clean teeth 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

30. ‘Raw Meaty Bones’ - Dogs • Puppies • Minced chicken carcases • Adults • Whole carcases: rats, mice, rabbits, chickens, quail, fish • Meaty bones: sheep, goat, calf, deer, kangaroo • Miscellaneous: pigs’ trotters, pigs’ heads, sheep heads, brisket, tail bones, rib bones, fish heads, chicken heads, feet, necks, wings, carcases (meat removed) • Offal: liver, lung, trachea, heart, omasum, tripe • Table scraps: grate or liquidise veges, not cooked bones 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

31. Owner education • Start early at puppy preschool / kitten kindy • Importance of handling mouth area • Use client handouts/ sample T/D etc • Pet may require professional cleaning every 6 –18 months like human regular dental visits • Explain that periodontal disease can compromise general health due to circulating bacteria eg kidney, liver, heart disease 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

32. The End 5888H - Veterinary Dental Nursing

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