Dentistry Flashcards
ethics/legal aspects of what a tech can do dentally
level of dental care a vet tech can perform varies by state
American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) considers it appropriate for vet to delegate dental maintenance to a tech
techs can’t alter shape, structure, or positional location of teeth
dental tasks a tech can do
oral examination and charting, taking/developing radiographs, dental prophylaxis, anesthetic blocks, client education, taking impressions and making models, perform nonsurgical subgingival root planing
dental organizations
NAVTA is responsible for governing and overseeing VTS
academy of Veterinary Dental Techs (AVDT) credentials techs as specialists in dentistry (3000 hours experience then secure mentor, maintain case logs, write case reports, pass an exam, and attend CE courses)
American veterinary dental society (AVDS)
American society for veterinary dental techs (ASVDT)
brachyodont teeth
small crown with long, well-developed roots, teeth don’t continue growing or erupting throughout life
hypsodont teeth
long crown height and continue to erupt throughout life
diphyodont teeth
2 sets of teeth, deciduous then permanent
what are incisors used for?
gnawing and grooming
what are canine teeth used for?
long, grasping and tearing
what are premolar/molar teeth used for?
shearing and grinding
what bone are the upper teeth embedded in?
maxilla
where are the upper incisors housed?
in the premaxilla (incisive bone)
where are the upper canines and cheek teeth housed?
in the maxilla
which bone comprises most of the hard palate?
palatine bone
which bone are the lower teeth embedded into?
the mandible
teeth of the mandible
jaw teeth
how is dentition classified?
dental formulas
how many deciduous teeth do puppies and kittens have?
puppies: 28
kittens: 26
when does eruption of the deciduous teeth begin for puppies and kittens?
puppies: 2-12 weeks
kittens: 2-6 weeks
how many permanent teeth do dogs and cats have?
dogs: 42
cats: 30
when does eruption of the permanent teeth occur for dogs and cats?
dogs: 3-7 months
cats: 3-6 months
dental formulas
dog deciduous: 2x (3I/3I, 1C/1C, 3P/3P)
dog permanent: 2x (3I/3I, 1C/1C, 4P/4P, 2M/3M)
cat deciduous: 2x (3I/3I, 1C/1C, 3P/2P)
cat permanent: 2x (3I/3I, 1C/1C, 3P/2P, 1M/1M)
crown
part of the tooth visible above the gumline
shiny enamel covers the crown and prevents the tooth from being invaded by bacteria/acids, won’t regrow if damaged
root
below gumline
covered by cementum
apex of the tooth
tip of the root
where the nerve enters from the jaw into the tooth
dentin
a substance that composes the bulk of the tooth
harder than bone but not harder than enamel
lies under enamel and cementum
where is the pulp cavity located?
within the central core of the tooth and contains pulp
pulp
within dentin, made up of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue
where is the pulp chamber located?
in the crown
where is the root canal located?
it is the portion located beneath the gumline
periodontum
area where tooth meets gum
gingiva
gum tissue
divided into free gingiva which lies closely against the tooth and attached gingiva which is firmly attached to underlying alveolar bone
what is included in the periodontum?
includes the gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum, alveolar bone
gingival sulcus
shallow groove between tooth and gingiva
formed by rounded margin of free gingiva
called periodontal pocket when abnormal
mucogingival line (MGL)
junction line where firmly attached gingiva connects to loose alveolar mucosa
what does the periodontal ligament attach?
attaches the cementum to the alveolar bone of the mandible/maxilla
cementum
bone-like tissue that covers the root surface
can repair itself
