Dentistry
Dentistry items test anatomy, charting, periodontal staging, and safe prophylaxis. The exam expects you to know that a complete dental evaluation requires anesthesia, radiographs, and probing - not just scaling visible tartar.
Core rules
- Permanent dog formula: 2 × (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/3) = 42 teeth. Cat formula: 2 × (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 3/2, M 1/1) = 30 teeth.
- Periodontal disease is staged by attachment loss, pocket depth, mobility, and furcation exposure; radiographs show bone loss not visible on exam.
- Supragingival scaling removes visible calculus; subgingival scaling and root planing address the pocket. Polish after scaling to smooth enamel.
- Protect the airway with a cuffed endotracheal tube and a throat pack; tilt the head to aid drainage.
- Dental radiographs are required before extraction planning; full-mouth series is ideal.
Worked example
A dog has a 6 mm periodontal pocket on the mandibular first molar, 2 mm gingival recession, and mobility. Reasoning: pocket depth plus attachment loss and mobility indicate advanced periodontitis, not simple gingivitis. Chart depth, recession, mobility, and furcation; obtain radiographs; the veterinarian decides whether extraction or periodontal therapy is appropriate. The technician does not extract without direction and does not rely on visual tartar alone.
Traps
- Using human dental scalers, which are too bulky and damage sulcular tissue.
- Polishing before scaling, which drives debris into pockets.
- Missing retained deciduous teeth or fractured roots.
- Extracting without radiographs or without a clear treatment plan.