| Westside Animal Hospital 3653 Hillsborough Road * Durham, North Carolina 919-383-5578 |
| The doctors and staff at Westside Animal Hospital are pleased to offer your pet some of the most up-to-date and advanced dental services available. Dr. Hoover has over 9 years of experience in advanced dental procedures. Dentistry has become one of the primary areas of focus at Westside Animal Hospital because of its high incidence and potential to significantly impact your pet's quality of life. Dental radiography, proper equipment, and an expertly trained veterinary team play key roles in the diagnosis and treatment of many common problems such as fractured teeth, abscessed teeth, periodontal disease, and resorptive lesions. |
| Pet Dentistry and Oral Surgery |
Other than tartar, this molar appeared normal, but notice the lesion below it |
| Dental radiography reveals a tooth root abscess on the same molar. |
Why would my pet need a root canal?
Fractured teeth with pulp exposure, worn teeth
with pulp exposure, teeth with pulpal hemorrhage
or some other cause of pulp death usually need to
be extracted or have root canal therapy. Root Canal
Therapy allows a diseased tooth to be saved and
refers to a type of endodontic treatment which can
be employed to treat a tooth with diseased or dead
pulp. In root canal therapy the pulp canal is cleaned
and the diseased pulp is removed. The canal is then
filled and any openings in the tooth are restored.
Root canal therapy is usually much less painful than
extraction. We offer the most current techniques for
the treatment of endodontically diseased teeth.
Fractured teeth with pulp exposure, worn teeth
with pulp exposure, teeth with pulpal hemorrhage
or some other cause of pulp death usually need to
be extracted or have root canal therapy. Root Canal
Therapy allows a diseased tooth to be saved and
refers to a type of endodontic treatment which can
be employed to treat a tooth with diseased or dead
pulp. In root canal therapy the pulp canal is cleaned
and the diseased pulp is removed. The canal is then
filled and any openings in the tooth are restored.
Root canal therapy is usually much less painful than
extraction. We offer the most current techniques for
the treatment of endodontically diseased teeth.
What kind of dental services do you provide?
 | Pediatric Dentistry including bite evaluations and | |
| extraction of retained or fractured primary teeth | ||
| Periodontics including periodontal surgery and | |
| guided tissue regeneration | ||
| Endodontics including root canal therapy of | |
| mature teeth and crown reduction/vital pulp therapy of teeth causing trauma | ||
| Exodontics including full mouth extractions for | |
| chronic ulcerative paradental disease (CUPS) and feline stomatitis | ||
| Oral Surgery including removal of oral tumors | |
| and surgical treatment of dental cysts | ||
| Orthodontics including treatment of base-narrow | |
| mandibular canine teeth | ||
| Mandibular Fracture repair using inter-dental | |
| wiring and intra-oral splinting. |
| Feline resorptive lesions, a very painful condition |
| What is the reason for taking dental x-rays? |
Dental x-rays help us:
Evaluate the crown and root structures of any
tooth that appears clinically abnormal.
Determine the presence or development of
deciduous or permanent teeth.
Determine the root status of a tooth with a crown
which is abnormal or missing.
Look for underlying causes as to why a pet may not
be chewing normally or have a painful mouth.
Aid in the staging of oral neoplasms prior to surgical
excisions.
Evaluate the crown and root structures of any
tooth that appears clinically abnormal.
Determine the presence or development of
deciduous or permanent teeth.
Determine the root status of a tooth with a crown
which is abnormal or missing.
Look for underlying causes as to why a pet may not
be chewing normally or have a painful mouth.
Aid in the staging of oral neoplasms prior to surgical
excisions.
Since oral disease does not stop at the gumline,
intraoral radiographs of the root structure are
imperative to diagnose and develop a treatment
plan for dental disease in pets. Without the use of
dental radiographs, we are prevented from seeing
two-thirds of the teeth. There are many indications
for dental radiographs including the following: red
or swollen gums, bleeding gums, broken teeth,
missing teeth, resorptive lesions, loose teeth,
abnormal periodontal pocket depth around teeth,
worn teeth, and discolored teeth.
intraoral radiographs of the root structure are
imperative to diagnose and develop a treatment
plan for dental disease in pets. Without the use of
dental radiographs, we are prevented from seeing
two-thirds of the teeth. There are many indications
for dental radiographs including the following: red
or swollen gums, bleeding gums, broken teeth,
missing teeth, resorptive lesions, loose teeth,
abnormal periodontal pocket depth around teeth,
worn teeth, and discolored teeth.
A recently fractured canine tooth with pulp
exposure.
exposure.
A root canal enables the tooth to be saved.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| What can I do to help prevent dental disease in my pet? Just like humans, pets benefit from routine oral hygiene. Brushing daily is the most effective way to slow the progression of tartar buildup and periodontal disease in dogs and cats. Regular oral examinations by a veterinarian are key in helping to prevent and detect oral problems. Once tartar and gingivitis are present, a routine dental cleaning and polishing allows for a clean slate to begin brushing again. |
How do I know
if my pet's mouth is painful?
This is the most common question owners ask. Since
animals cannot tell us if they hurt, we must try to
equate dental problems in pets with similar dental
problems in humans. For example, a person with an
abscessed tooth may tell you it hurts, but not enough
for them to stop eating or going on with normal every
day life. For the most part, this is the case with
animals that have diseased teeth and/or gums.
Owners rarely report loss of appetite or lethargy
when their pet has dental disease. After the pet's
teeth have been treated, however, we often have
owners report an increase in play/fetch activity with
chew or tug toys, indicating that there had been
some level of discomfort.
Sensitive to the fact that pets may have pain due to
dental disease, we are proactive about pain
management. During procedures involving oral
surgery, nerve blocks are given to numb particularly
painful areas in the mouth. Also, pain medications in
pill, liquid and dermal forms are often sent home with
patients to ensure management of pain several days
after the procedure.
if my pet's mouth is painful?
This is the most common question owners ask. Since
animals cannot tell us if they hurt, we must try to
equate dental problems in pets with similar dental
problems in humans. For example, a person with an
abscessed tooth may tell you it hurts, but not enough
for them to stop eating or going on with normal every
day life. For the most part, this is the case with
animals that have diseased teeth and/or gums.
Owners rarely report loss of appetite or lethargy
when their pet has dental disease. After the pet's
teeth have been treated, however, we often have
owners report an increase in play/fetch activity with
chew or tug toys, indicating that there had been
some level of discomfort.
Sensitive to the fact that pets may have pain due to
dental disease, we are proactive about pain
management. During procedures involving oral
surgery, nerve blocks are given to numb particularly
painful areas in the mouth. Also, pain medications in
pill, liquid and dermal forms are often sent home with
patients to ensure management of pain several days
after the procedure.