Dentistry
Domain focus
Dentistry tests oral anatomy, periodontal assessment, dental charting, cleaning and polishing, dental radiography, extraction assistance, and client education. The exam favors practical judgment: what to probe, what to record, and when to stop.
Core rules and concepts
- Permanent dental formula: dog 2 × (3/3 incisors, 1/1 canine, 4/4 premolars, 2/3 molars) = 42 teeth; cat 2 × (3/3, 1/1, 3/2, 1/1) = 30 teeth.
- Periodontal staging uses attachment loss: stage 1 is gingivitis without attachment loss; stage 2 is less than 25%; stage 3 is 25–50%; stage 4 is greater than 50%.
- Probe six sites per tooth and record depth, bleeding, mobility, furcation exposure, and recession. Radiograph teeth with deep pockets or missing crowns.
- Scaling removes calculus; polishing smooths the enamel. Use a gentle polisher to avoid heat damage. Chart before and after treatment.
- Extraction requires proper elevators and forceps, but a technician should not extract unless legally permitted and trained.
Worked example
A dog's right maxillary fourth premolar has a 5 mm probing depth, gingival recession, and about 40% attachment loss on the radiograph. This is stage 3 periodontitis because attachment loss is between 25% and 50%. The plan should include radiographs, periodontal therapy, and a recheck, not simply polishing the crown.
Traps that cost marks
Calling gingivitis 'stage 2' when there is no attachment loss; charting only pocket depth and ignoring recession; using a high-speed polisher that heats the tooth; and missing the cat's 30-tooth formula.