Dentistry
Dentistry
This domain tests oral anatomy, dental charting, periodontal disease, scaling and polishing, extraction instruments, and dental radiography.
Core rules
- 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 disease is staged by attachment loss, probing depth, and mobility. Normal sulcus depth is about 1–3 mm in dogs and under 1 mm in cats.
- Scaling must be followed by polishing; scaling leaves rough enamel that accelerates plaque.
- Dental radiography is required before extraction to assess roots, bone loss, and retained roots.
- General anesthesia with a cuffed endotracheal tube is standard; the tube protects the airway from water and debris.
Worked example
A dog under anesthesia has a probing depth of 6 mm on the mandibular first molar. Normal is up to 3 mm, so attachment loss is present and the tooth needs charting, radiographs, and possible periodontal therapy or extraction - not just scaling.
Traps
- Scaling calculus without subgingival cleaning or polishing.
- Missing a fractured tooth with pulp exposure because the crown looks intact.
- Using a dental elevator as a lever on the wrong tooth.
- Charting only the teeth that look obviously diseased.