Toothy Thomson

This is NOT me complaining, simply reflecting. ..

I also know, much like Jess, I CHOOSE to obsess over every word and every image I share.

Thankfully, the hard and the criticisms are significantly outweighed by the joy I receive from all of you learning and growing in dentistry! 😊

So THANK YOU 💜🦷

Join me as I repair the symphysial separation. 🔧

Step 1
Once clipped and prepped, palpate the symphysis and use a 10 blade to cut full thickness through the skin and subcutaneous tissue down to the symphysis.

Step 2
Once the the incision is made, use periosteal elevator to elevate the soft tissue under off of the mandible to create a space for the wire to pass directly along the mandible.

Step 3
Check to see the bone is exposed to ensure no impingement of any soft tissue once the wire is tight.

Step 4
MODIFICATION: start with the needle just distal to the canines, direct the needle from INTRAORAL and out of the skin incision. THIS will help a lot when it comes to removal.

Step 5
Repeat this on the other side so that the bevels of both needles are outside your skin incision. Make sure that the bevel of the needle is wide enough to allow the wire to pass through.
 
Step 6
Next twist the wire off to one side, along a canine tooth. Ensure the twisters are on the initial twist to provide traction while twisting to evenly engage both wires.

Step 7
Place acrylic over the wire twist so it does not irritate the patient. With the skin closed, let that heal because a simple snip the intraoral wire is ALL that is needed for removal. VOILA! 😻



veterinarymedicine veterinaryeducation petdentist ouchy stepbysteprepair dentistryandoralsurgery wiringtechnique

Dentistry is my one thing!!! 💜🦷

This my day as a mobile veterinary dentist! 🦷

This is THE MOST common mistake I seen made when extracting canine teeth.

In fact, THIS is the reason I tell veterinarians to “be like a yogi” when removing bone: DO. NOT. FORCE. IT.

It is easier to cut bone than to cut tooth, therefore if you are gentle and move slowly the bur will find the Periodontal Ligament space, INSTEAD of creating a fake on IN the tooth. 🦷

Also LOUPES 💡🔎

And that’s a clinical day as a mobile Veterinary Dentist.

What do you think? Drop any thoughts or questions in the comments ⬇️

THIS is a conversation I have most days.
Shock and grief when the number of end-stage diseased teeth requiring extraction is higher than owners expected.

I start with telling them how teeth their pets has, as it’s often many more than they think. Then I tell them how many require extraction. .. and then. .. I SHUT UP and let them process.

I do often ask: “is there a number of teeth you would be more comfortable with?”
I have found this opens up the conversation about the number of teeth and then we can shift to the REASON, the disease, the positive outcome.

I explain the functioning of teeth in eating and then I am HONEST with owners about their COMFORT in chewing and eating and how this WILL improve once the disease teeth are gone!

How do you approach these conversations?

FOLLOW .thomson for more dentistry content. 💜🦷

ALL damaged teeth: abrasion, “uncomplicated” fractures, attrition, NEED to have dental radiographs to determine vitality or non-vitality.

The dentin is porous and contains cytoplasmic extensions (Tomes fibers) of the pulp.
Therefore, EVEN WITHOUT macroscopic pulp exposure there is always MICROSCOPIC exposure.
In many cases, the odontoblasts lining the pulp tissue are able to “plug” the dentinal tubules with tertiary dentin BEFORE pulpitis and pulp necrosis (tooth death) occurs.

Unfortunately, for this pup that did not happen.
Based in the dental radiographs, that tooth died years previous.
BUT the GOOD NEWS is he had those teeth radiographed and was able to receive a root canal treatment to maintain that tooth without risk of chronic pain, inflammation +\- infection.

Comment “ABRASION” below ⬇️ to get my client education handout on teeth with abrasion, UNcomplicated fractures and attrition.

** a single radiograph following injury does not rule out non-vitality, TWO time points are needed to confirm continued secondary dentinogenesis/continued development **

And FOLLOW .thomson for more dentistry tips and resources! 💜🦷

Had a blast this weekend!!! 💜🦷