At the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center, we offer a variety of dental services to address all your of pet’s individual dental needs. We are dedicated to providing the highest standard of anesthetic safety and pain management while utilizing the most current veterinary dental and oral surgery services and techniques to improve your pet’s overall health, comfort and lifespan. If you have any questions or would like more information on how we can care for your pet, please contact us today.

Please select and “click” any of the following topics for detailed information:

Dental Radiographs (X-Rays)

Over the last decade, dental radiographs (x-rays) have become one of the most important diagnostic tools in veterinary dentistry by providing a detailed image of the internal structure of the tooth, tooth roots and surrounding bone. Dental radiographs are considered essential to making an accurate diagnosis, creating the appropriate treatment plans and providing archivable images for documentation and case monitoring.  A majority of our pets dental disease such as tooth resorption, periodontal disease, tooth fractures, oral cancer, cysts, tooth root abscesses, tooth impaction, and jaw fractures occur under the gumline making dental radiography an absolute necessity to achieve and maintain your pets good oral health.

Digital radiography systems send an enhanced detailed image directly from an intraoral sensor to a computer in seconds, resulting in decreased anesthetic time and minimal radiation exposure. Digital dental radiographs can be further enhanced with the ability to enlarge the image and alter the contrast resulting in improved image resolution. Dental radiographs are completely painless and non-invasive, but anesthesia is necessary due the high risk of digital sensor damage if placed in an awake animal’s mouth and the need for accurate and stationary digital sensor placement to obtain diagnostic quality radiographs without motion artifacts.

Dental radiographs not only enhance our ability to diagnose dental disease and create appropriate treatment plans it also allows the images to be archived and shared for client education and communication (pictures are worth a thousand words), case monitoring, and medical or legal documentation.

The Florida Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery Center recommends full mouth digital dental radiographs to all our referral patients to identify all forms of dental diseases present under the gumline that would otherwise be missed.

If you have any questions regarding our Radiographic services, please do not hesitate to contact the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center at (561) 515-6711. Dr. Wiegand welcomes the opportunity to assist surrounding veterinarians with challenging dental or oral disease cases via our website portal, email or phone. If you have dental radiographs, with specific questions, please complete our Dental Radiograph or Case Consultation Form and submit any clinical images and /or radiographs you would like interpreted in JPEG format directly through our website portal or via the following email address: Office@FloridaAnimalDentistry.com . To assist radiographic interpretation, please submit radiographs of the contralateral side for comparison. We are pleased to offer this service free of charge.

If you have a case that requires immediate attention, please call Dr. Wiegand at (561) 515-6711.

Advanced Imaging (CT scan)

Cone beam computed tomography generates 3-dimensional x-ray images to provide your pet with the highest quality imaging in veterinary dentistry. This advanced imaging technology creates a cone shaped x-ray beam that will rotate completely around your pets head to capture data and produce superior quality images in traditional and three dimensional forms. The cone beam CT takes an equivalent of a 360 slice CT scan in less than 40 seconds. This will provide your pet with less time under anesthesia and significantly less exposure to radiation than traditional CT scans. In veterinary dentistry cone beam CTs provide detailed images in the oral and maxillofacial regions including: teeth, facial bones, nasal cavity and temporomandibular joints. These three dimensional anatomically accurate images provide superior diagnostic capabilities and more accurate surgical treatment planning. At the current time, the primary indications for CBCT include facial trauma, oral tumors and TMJ disease.

Benefits of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT Scan)

  • Superior high-resolution image quality compared to standard intraoral radiographs by permitting cross- sectional imaging without anatomical structure overlap.
  • One scan replaces the need for multiple dental radiographs.
  • Faster – Complete scan in less than 40 seconds resulting in:
    • less time under anesthesia.
    • Less exposure to radiation- greater than 5-10 times less than standard CT scans.
  • Noninvasive, accurate and painless.
  • Superior diagnostic capabilities of both soft tissue and bone resulting in superior treatment planning and improved clinical outcomes.

The Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center currently provides cone beam computed tomography (CT) technology at an alternate location.

Computed tomography is a form of imaging that generates 3-dimensional x-ray images. These image can be reconstructed in many different ways to create a more detailed picture to guide a treatment plan.

Endodontics (Root Canal Therapy) 

Endodontic therapy is indicated for teeth with crown fractures that expose the root pulp or teeth that are discolored (nonvital). Fractured teeth are a very common problem in animals and typically results from some form of external trauma. Most common causes of tooth fractures in dogs include: Blunt trauma to the muzzle (hit by a car, ball or frisbee), trauma related to chewing on hard objects (rocks, bones or antlers) and rough play or training (fights, tugging games, military or police training). In cats the most common causes of tooth fracture include falling from elevated heights or secondary to a syndrome called Feline Tooth Resorption which will result in progressive destruction of the tooth’s crown and/or root predisposing the tooth to fracture.

The teeth most commonly fractured in our pets are the canine (fang) teeth and the maxillary fourth premolar teeth (carnassial teeth – largest teeth in the back of the upper jaw). The most important teeth in our pets include the maxillary and mandibular canine teeth, maxillary fourth premolar and mandibular first molar teeth. These teeth are called strategic teeth because of their large size and prominent function (defense, picking up or holding objects and chewing). If these strategic teeth are fractured with pulp exposure they should ideally be saved by root canal therapy. For smaller nonstrategic teeth such as the incisors or small premolars extraction can be considered a viable alternative. Although some clients are interested in maintaining all teeth.

When a tooth fracture occurs, it should be immediately evaluated by your family veterinarian. If the fracture has resulted in pulp exposure, then a definitive treatment is required in the form of root canal therapy or tooth extraction. Watching and waiting is not an option.

The root canal system in our teeth contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics that support and nourish the tooth throughout life. When this tissue becomes exposed by a crown fracture or dies secondary to trauma the root canal becomes a chronic source of infection that can never heal. Over time the infection will expand through the root apex leading to both root and surrounding bone loss, draining tracts, localized facial swelling and predisposition to jaw fractures.

Root canal procedures performed in humans and animals are very similar and can be performed on most fractured, nonvital and/or abscessed teeth. Root canal therapy has an excellent long-term prognosis (up to 95%) and will maintain both jaw strength and tooth function. A root canal therapy involves removing all organic and inorganic material (root pulp, infected dentin, and debris) from the canal. Followed by instrumental and chemical root canal shaping and cleaning. Once the canal is sterilized it will be filled with dental materials and sealed with a tooth colored composite to prevent reinfection. Additional restoration in the form of metal crowns may be indicated to further protect the tooth crown.

Crown height reduction, partial coronal pulpectomy and direct pulp capping is another form of endodontics. This treatment is most often utilized for orthodontic purposes on young growing teeth that are malpositioned resulting in damage to other teeth or soft tissue such as the palate (Traumatic Malocclusion). This procedure is highly successful in shortening the offending tooth or teeth cusp height thus resolving the traumatic malocclusion while allowing the tooth to remain vital and continue to mature and strengthen.

If you have any questions regarding our endodontic services, please do not hesitate to call the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center at (561) 515-6711. Dr. Wiegand welcomes the opportunity to assist surrounding veterinarians with challenging dental or oral disease cases via our website portal, email or phone. If you would like to discuss or refer a challenging clinical case, please complete our Case Consultation Form or Dental Referral Form and submit any clinical images and / or radiographs in JPEG format directly through our website portal or via the following email address: Office@FloridaAnimalDentistry.com .

Periodontics  (Dental Cleaning and Periodontal Therapy)

Periodontal procedures performed at the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center include:

  • Supra and subgingival ultrasonic scaling, and polishing of teeth
  • Closed Root Planing
  • Open Root Planing
  • Subgingival Curettage
  • Perioceutic Therapy
  • Advanced Mucogingival Flap Surgery
  • Gingival Recontouring
  • Bone Augmentation and Regeneration.

Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition seen in adult dogs and cats and is induced by oral bacteria and plaque resulting in a progressive, cyclical inflammatory process of the supporting structures of the teeth. In fact, up to 80% of all dogs and 70% of all cats have some degree of periodontal disease by three years of age. This condition can be 100% preventable if caught in the early stages. Unfortunately, clinical signs other than bad breath will often go unnoticed until the disease is well established. As a result, periodontal disease is often called the “silent killer” and is the main cause of dental disease and premature tooth loss. Periodontal disease has also been associated with multiple systemic problems involving the heart, liver and kidney, and a reduced lifespan in our pets.

Periodontal disease is not present above the gumline it is present below the gumline, hidden from your direct view. This explains why a thorough oral examination and dental radiographs (x-rays) under general anesthesia are essential to determine the diagnosis and severity of periodontal disease.  Without anesthesia, proper diagnostics and treatment cannot be performed and dental disease will be missed. Anesthesia free dentistry is not recommended. Please visit the link provided by the American College of Veterinary Dentistry to learn more about anesthesia free dentistry and periodontal disease. http://avdc.org/AFD/

While your companion is under anesthesia we can safely and painlessly perform a comprehensive oral exam, ultrasonic supra and subgingival scaling and polishing of your pets teeth, then probe, chart and radiograph each tooth. A majority of the pets we see have some degree of periodontal disease. There are 4 stages of periodontal disease and the extent of disease may vary from tooth to tooth. After determining the extent of periodontal disease present, an individualized treatment plan can be created to restore your pets periodontal health, retard plaque, resolve periodontal inflammation and attachment loss thus improving your pets overall health, comfort, and lifespan.

Your pets treatment plan must be individualized and based on several factors including: extent and severity of oral disease, tooth location and involvement (aesthetic / strategic teeth), extent and frequency of needed follow-up care, willingness and ability of the owners to provide home dental care. Another important factor to consider when creating a periodontal treatment plan is the patients age, breed, function and health status including presence of concurrent diseases that may adversely affect your pets immune system and regenerative (healing) abilities such as Diabetes, Cushing’s disease, FIV, etc.

The doctors at the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center will consider all clinical and radiographic findings in addition to your willingness and ability to perform home dental care and return for recommended recheck oral examinations to create an individualized treatment plan. The goal of all periodontal therapy is to provide your pet with a pain free and functional bite while significantly improving your pets overall health, comfort and lifespan.

If you have any questions regarding our periodontic services, please do not hesitate to call the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center at (561) 515-6711. Dr. Wiegand welcomes the opportunity to assist surrounding veterinarians with challenging dental or oral disease cases via our website portal, email or phone. If you would like to discuss or refer a challenging periodontal case, please complete our Case Consultation Form or Dental Referral Form and submit any clinical images and /or radiographs in JPEG format directly through our website portal or via the following email address: Office@FloridaAnimalDentistry.com

Orthodontics (Aligning teeth to achieve a comfortable and functional bite)

Orthodontic procedures performed at the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center include:

  • Bite Evaluation
  • Genetic Counseling
  • Active or passive force orthodontic appliances for the treatment of painful malocclusions
    • Braces, elastic chains, incline plane, crown extension, gingival wedge resection +/- osteoplasty
    • Less common corrective orthodontics include surgical repositioning
  • Crown height reduction with endodontic therapy to remove the traumatic occlusal interface
  • Interceptive orthodontics for the prevention of painful malocclusions
    • Surgical extraction of a tooth in malocclusion

The Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center provide orthodontic services to achieve what every animal deserves- a functional and comfortable bite (occlusion). Orthodontics focus on the diagnosis, prevention, interception and treatment of traumatic malocclusions. Traumatic malocclusions are painful and occur when a tooth or teeth are out of alignment and cause trauma to other teeth or soft tissues. Orthodontic treatment involves the repositioning of teeth out of alignment while maintaining maximal integrity, strength and function of the tooth and jaw.

After performing a detailed oral examination, we will fully discuss your pets malocclusion and all potential treatment options including estimated costs, orthodontic expectations and needed follow-up care. When creating a successful orthodontic treatment plan several factors must be considered including: tooth or teeth involved, state of root development, tooth’s current state of eruption, position and expected pathway, breed specific facial characteristics, patients age, intended function and temperament. Another factor to consider when creating an orthodontic treatment plan, is the client’s expectations and time limitations. Orthodontic care requires frequent recheck oral examinations and at times will require anesthesia for appliance adjustment or removal.

It is also important to understand that veterinary orthodontic care is not indicated in all cases of malocclusion. Animals do not need a perfect bite, they need a comfortable and functional bite.  Any malocclusions that are both comfortable and functional regardless of esthetics do not require orthodontic care. However, any malocclusion resulting in tooth to tooth contact or tooth to soft tissue contact warrant some form of orthodontic intervention.

Management of Malocclusion

The first step toward creating a successful treatment plan is identifying the malocclusion as early as possible. It must be remembered that orthodontic treatment is often measured in millimeters and young growing animals have a reduced time frame in which orthodontics can be extremely rewarding.  This is simply because as our pets teeth erupt they are far more receptive to orthodontic care.  So as soon as a malocclusion is diagnosed, a treatment plan should be created, discussed and initiated in a timely manner to provide the best opportunity for a comfortable and functional bite.

Orthodontic treatment must be individualized for every patient and will require a team effort to be successful. Treatment options come in many forms and can be generally separated into 2 categories: orthodontic movement of the offending tooth by active or passive force appliances such as braces, acrylic incline planes, crown extensions etc. or removal of the source of trauma by crown reduction with endodontic therapy or surgical extraction. As mentioned earlier the doctors at the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center will sit down with clients to fully explain all potential treatment options, orthodontic expectations, frequency and extent of recheck examinations, potential complications and the benefits of treatment. Teamwork and clear communication is essential in creating a successful treatment plan that will provide your pet with a comfortable and functional bite. There will always be a treatment option for any patient with a traumatic malocclusion.

Below is a short description of normal and abnormal bites, directed toward veterinarians and interested pet owners. The pictures provided are copyrighted by the American Veterinary Dental College  and used with permission.

Normal Occlusion

Normal occlusion consists of a scissor incisor relationship in which the mandibular incisor teeth are positioned just behind the corresponding maxillary incisor teeth with the incisive edges of the mandibular incisor teeth resting on the cingulum of the maxillary incisor teeth. The mandibular canine teeth are positioned equidistant from the maxillary third incisor and maxillary canine teeth. The maxillary and mandibular premolars interdigitate with consistent space between the arcades forming a pinking shear relationship. The mesial cusp of the maxillary fourth premolar teeth is buccal (lateral) to the mandibular first molar teeth with developmental groove alignment.

Malocclusion (abnormal tooth alignment)

Malocclusions are broadly divided into 2 types: Dental and skeletal. Dental malocclusion occurs when one or more teeth are out of alignment while the jaws are in a normal orientation. Skeletal malocclusion occurs when the jaws are out of alignment causing the teeth to be out of normal orientation.

There are 4 established classes of malocclusions that are based on relative jaw lengths.

  • Class 0 – Normal Occlusion
  • Class 1 (Dental) Malocclusions – Normal maxillary and mandibular jaw length relationship with malposition of one or more teeth. This condition may also be referred to as neutroclusion.
  • Class II (Skeletal) Malocclusions – The mandible is shorter than the maxilla often resulting in the mandibular canine teeth traumatizing the hard palate. This condition may also be referred to as: overbite, mandibular brachygnathism, parrot mouth or mandibular distoclusion.
  • Class III (Skeletal) Malocclusions – The mandible is longer than the maxilla placing the mandibular incisors and possibly the canines in front of the maxillary incisors. Although this condition is usually just a cosmetic issue it may result in lip catching, enhanced periodontal disease or tooth attrition. This condition may also be referred to as: underbite, prognathism or mandibular mesioclusion.
  • Class IV (Skeletal) Malocclusions – One side of the mandible is longer than the maxilla while on the other side the mandible is shorter than the maxilla. This condition may also be referred to as maxillomandibular asymmetry or by lay term – wry bite.

If you have any questions regarding our orthodontic services, please do not hesitate to call the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center at (561) 515-6711. Dr. Wiegand welcomes the opportunity to assist surrounding veterinarians with challenging dental or oral disease cases via our website portal, email or phone. If you would like to discuss or refer a challenging orthodontic case, please complete our Case Consultation Form or Dental Referral Form and submit any clinical images and /or radiographs in JPEG format directly through our website portal or via the following email address: Office@FloridaAnimalDentistry.com .

To provide efficient communication please utilize the following 3 to 4 picture techniques:

  1. Lift the lips, close the mouth and take a direct straight on picture of the muzzle. This will provide view of the occlusal relationship of the incisor teeth.
  2. Lift the lips, close the mouth and take a direct lateral picture of the right side of the muzzle to view the occlusal relationship of the canines, premolar and molar teeth.
  3. Same picture technique of the left side of the muzzle.
  4. If the bite is traumatic please provide an open mouth view of the palate to evaluate extent and location of trauma.

Restorations and Crown Therapy (Protecting and Restoring Tooth Function)

Prosthodontic and restorative dentistry procedures performed at the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center include:

  • Cast metal crown restoration
  • ¾ crown for cage bitter enamel wear
  • Cosmetic bonding for enamel hypoplasia
  • Composite or glass ionomer restorations for cavities, enamel fractures or defects

Restorations essentially help protect previously damaged teeth from further injury and infection while maintaining their normal function. The most common indications for tooth restorations include crown fractures, enamel wear (cage or crate biting), caries or congenital and developmental enamel defects. Restorations selected may vary from the simple application of a dental sealant to the more complicated resin composites or full metal alloy prosthetic crowns.  Any tooth with an irregular or traumatized crown should first be examined under anesthesia and radiographed to determine the most appropriate treatment plan and method of restoration. Other determining factors when considering restoration techniques include: tooth involvement, duration, severity, location and cause of the crown irregularity, animal age, health, function (young police dog vs older lap dog or cat) and likelihood the cause of the problem will repeat itself. When metal crowns are being considered another point to factor in would be the additional cost for tooth impressions, crown fabrication by a dental laboratory, and the need for additional anesthesia and crown cementation.

Restorations are highly recommended for dental fractures to seal the exposed dentin tubules, decrease tooth sensitivity, reduce susceptibility to endodontic disease, periodontal disease and future fractures while returning the tooth to normal function.

Restorative Dentistry:

Tooth cavities (caries), congenital or developmental enamel defects and enamel fractures do occur in our pets. When diagnosed early by an anesthetized oral exam and dental radiographs they can be successfully treated with restorative dentistry. These conditions can be quite painful if left untreated. Restorations can be performed with a composite resin or in select cases glass ionomers to eliminate pain, decrease chances of infection and return the tooth or teeth to normal function.

Prosthodontic Crowns:

Prosthetic crowns are indicated for fractured or worn teeth for 2 primary reasons:

  • Protect them from further injury by equally distributing occlusal forces.
  • Provide an additional seal to the exposed dentin tubules or endodontic (root canal) access sites to further prevent bacterial migration.

Restorative treatments must be individualized for every patient and the doctors at the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center will sit down and discuss all potential restorative techniques that are best suited for your pet and his/her lifestyle.

Below is a short anatomic description of the two distinct types of tooth fractures and potential treatment options with or without restorative therapy. This information is directed toward veterinarians or interested pet owners.

The most common causes of tooth fractures in dogs and cats include some form of external trauma (hit by car or falling from elevated heights) or chewing on hard objects (rocks, bones, frisbees). The most common cause of enamel wear in dogs include cage, fence or crate biting or attrition. Attrition occurs when there is tooth on tooth contact secondary to malocclusion or improperly aligned teeth. Enamel wear over time will result in structural tooth loss and increased risk of tooth fracture.

There are two kinds of tooth fractures in our pets.

  • Uncomplicated crown fracture, where the pulp is not exposed.
  • Complicated crown fracture, where the pulp is directly exposed.

The crown of our teeth consists of 3 layers: Enamel (hardest substance in the body), Dentin (about as hard as bone and full of small tubules containing dentinal fluid and nerve endings) and the Pulp Chamber (containing blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics). Once the tooth’s protective enamel is lost either by wear or fracture it will expose the dentinal tubules resulting in pain followed by creating a potential portal for bacteria to pass directly into the root canal system. So even when your pet has a uncomplete crown fracture often described by clients as a chipped tooth, the tooth is still painful with an increased probability of infection and potential tooth death. When a complicated crown fracture occurs, and the pulp is directly exposed – pain, pulpal infection and death of the tooth is eminent.

When any tooth is worn or fractured, an anesthetized oral examination and dental radiographs should be performed to determine the appropriate treatment plan. Potential treatment options for a tooth with enamel wear or an uncomplicated crown fracture with no radiographic abnormalities include: smoothing the rough fracture edges and/or application of a dental sealant. If additional support is needed a full or ¾ partial metal crown can be placed. Potential treatment options for a tooth with a complicated crown fracture and pulp exposure includes: tooth extraction or root canal therapy with composite restoration alone or in conjunction with the placement of a metal crown.

If you have any questions regarding our prosthodontic or restorative services, please do not hesitate to call the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center at (561) 515-6711. Dr. Wiegand welcomes the opportunity to assist surrounding veterinarians with challenging dental or oral disease cases via our website portal, email or phone. If you would like to discuss or refer a challenging orthodontic case, please complete our Case Consultation Form or Dental Referral Form and submit any clinical images and /or radiographs in JPEG format directly through our website portal or via the following email address: Office@FloridaAnimalDentistry.com .

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Oral Tumors/Jaw Fractures/Palatal Defects…)

The Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center maintains the highest standards in oral surgery and anesthetic safety by utilizing the most advanced surgical techniques in a fully equipped dental surgical suite with state of the art anesthetic monitoring equipment and digital dental radiology.

Our oral surgery services include:

  • Palatal defect repair
  • Oronasal, oroantral defect repair
  • Oral tumor removal
  • Jaw fracture intraoral stabilization and fixation
  • Surgical dental extractions
  • Maxillectomy / Mandibulectomy (removal of a portion of the upper or lower Jaw)
  • Maxillofacial reconstruction

Oral Tumors:
The oral cavity is the fourth most common place to find cancer and accounts for 6% of all tumors in dogs and 10% of all tumors in cats.  Tumors are classified as benign or malignant. Benign tumors are slow growing, localized and do not spread to other parts of the body, while malignant tumors are faster growing, more likely to invade adjacent tissues including bone and have the potential to spread to other parts of the body. It has been found that of the oral tumors biopsied, 50% are malignant in dogs and 90% are malignant in cats. It is important to understand that not all oral swelling are tumors and that oral tumors cannot be differentiated (benign vs malignant) by visual appearance alone but require some form of biopsy and histopathology to determine the exact type of tumor. The most common oral malignancies in dogs include malignant melanoma, fibrosarcoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. In cats, squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy.

The first step in creating a successful treatment plan is to obtain an incisional (taking a small portion for microscopic examination, with no attempt to remove all of the swelling) or excisional (surgery to remove the tumor completely) biopsy of the oral mass. At this time a fine needle aspirate or biopsy of the regional lymph node may be performed. The biopsy will then be submitted to a pathologist for microscopic evaluation to determine the type of neoplasia present. Depending on the type of tumor, additional staging may be necessary to further determine extent of bone or soft tissue involvement or if the tumor has spread to other areas of the body such as the lungs or lymph nodes. At this time an informed surgical and /or medical treatment plan can be created focusing on your pets long term comfort and quality of life. An oncology consultation will be recommended with all malignant masses to ensure all treatment options have been considered. The doctors at the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center will keep you and your family veterinarian fully informed of all diagnostic findings, potential treatment options including post-surgical care and their expected long-term prognosis to allow you to make the best treatment option for your companion.

Most oral tumors, benign or malignant have the best chance for a cure with early detection and complete surgical removal.

Jaw Fractures:
Fractures of the upper (maxilla) or lower (Mandible) jaws most commonly result from some form of trauma such as being hit by car or falling from an elevated height. Pathologic fractures are often associated with advanced periodontal disease or less likely neoplasia. Periodontal disease results in cyclic destruction of the supporting structures of the tooth including the surrounding bone. Overtime the bone becomes increasing thin and frail resulting in an increased likelihood to fracture due to any type of trauma including picking up a toy. Recent advances in both dental materials and fracture stabilization techniques have made non-invasive fracture repair and bone regeneration a possibility in cases where complete bone healing was unlikely.

The fundamentals of jaw fracture repair include obtaining proper dental occlusion and function while achieving and maintaining adequate fracture reduction with a rigid/stable skeletal fixation. Adherence to these principles will help increase the likelihood of a successful bony union. When jaw fractures occur, many factors must be considered prior to selecting a definitive treatment plan. These factors include: cause, duration, location and severity of the fracture, health and status of surrounding bone and teeth, the patients age, function and health.

Most mandibular or maxillary jaw fractures are amendable to noninvasive fracture repair with the combined use of interdental wiring and intraoral acrylic splints. This technique has been shown to provide equal stabilization and bony healing compared to the more invasive internal and external skeletal fixation, while avoiding additional bone or tooth root trauma with interosseous wire, pins or bone screws.

If you have any questions regarding oral and maxillofacial surgery, please do not hesitate to call the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center at (561) 515-6711. Dr. Wiegand welcomes the opportunity to assist surrounding veterinarians with challenging dental or oral disease cases via our website portal, email or phone. If you would like to discuss or refer a challenging surgical and / or jaw fracture case, please complete our Case Consultation Form or Dental Referral Form and submit any clinical images and /or radiographs in JPEG format directly through our website portal or via the following email address: Office@FloridaAnimalDentistry.com .

 

Anesthesia Pain Management (Before, During and After)

Our dogs and cats feel the same level of pain and discomfort as we do, but they are unable to speak and almost never reveal obvious signs of discomfort. Signs of oral pain in dogs and cats may include: drooling, dropping of food while eating, facial sensitivity or shyness, decreased or lack of appetite, lethargy, isolation, aggressiveness or submissiveness, scratching at the muzzle or rubbing the face/muzzle against an object, turning the head as eating, frequently visiting the food bowl but only eating a small amount. These clinical signs are often overlooked or mistaken for other problems until after the source of discomfort has been removed or treated. Many of our clients tell us that their pet seems to be acting younger, more playful and eating better after an advanced dental procedure.

The Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center uses an individualized multimodal approach to provide your pet with optimal pain management. It has been proven that with appropriate pain management we are able to improve patient outcomes and provide a rapid recovery and return to function. When creating an individualized multimodal treatment plan several factors must be considered such as: the pets age, weight, current health status, previous response to medications, current level of discomfort, type of discomfort and anticipated pain level post operatively.

Multimodal pain management is highly effective in alleviating your pets discomfort by using several different classes of pain altering medications before, during and after the procedure to disrupt the body’s neurologic pain pathway at multiple different sites. This multimodal approach not only provides optimal pain management, but it also allows us to use lower doses of each drug and minimize potential side effects of any one medication.

Preanesthetic & intraoperative Pain Management

Effective pain management starts before the anesthetic event or surgical procedure. It has been proven that initiating pain control prior to the onset of any discomfort is far more effective than trying to relieve the pain once it has occurred. Preemptive pain management not only provides superior pain control, it also allows us to use lower doses of drugs used for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia thus providing a smoother, more rapid anesthetic recovery for your pet. Pre-emptive pain management utilized by the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center include the use of injectable preanesthetic medications and intraoperative local nerve blocks. Occasionally on a case by case basis additional pain altering medications may be administered prior to recovery. Local nerve blocks are the only class of drugs that have the potential to completely block local pain sensitivity. The Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center consider local nerve blocks essential when performing oral surgery.

Post-operative pain medications

As part of an effective pain management plan your pet will receive post-operative pain medications to provide a continuous level of pain control and comfort for several days. This will provide your pet with optimal tissue healing, recovery and return to function. When your pet is discharged the doctor and staff at the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center will discuss in detail all post procedural expectations, instructions and patient needs. A detailed discharge form will also be provided and will include a complete list of all post-operative medications with instructions on how and when they are to be given to your pet to provide optimal comfort and care. Your family veterinarian will receive a complete medical report by the following morning, at the latest.

If you have any questions regarding our pain management services, please do not hesitate to call the Florida Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery Center at (561) 515-6711.