ADVANCED DENTAL CARE IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR COMPLICATED CASES

Routine dental care is an essential part of pet health. But when your patients need more than simple cleanings, or a case that requires the expertise of advanced training, the Dentistry/Oromaxillofacial Surgery service at BEVS, led by Dr. Bill Kellner, is here to help. Whether your patient is a cat who needs full-mouth extractions, a dog with a tricky oral mass, or a senior dog with a mouthful of trouble, referring them to BEVS will ensure they’re in capable and compassionate hands. 

Patient: Oliver, 1-year-old male Golden Retriever/Lab Mix.

Reason for visit: Right mandibular oral mass.

Exam/Diagnostics: Oliver was referred for evaluation and treatment of a right mandible tumor with a history of an incisional biopsy diagnosis of ameloblastic fibro-odontoma. The tumor extended from the 2nd premolar to the molar and was causing displacement of the premolars. Dr. Kellner reviewed the radiographs obtained by Oliver’s primary care veterinarian and was highly suspicious that the tumor was actually a compound odontoma. This benign, odontogenic tumor carries a good prognosis with marginal excision, enucleation, and debridement. In light of the high index of suspicion that the tumor was benign, Oliver’s owners chose to proceed with rim excision mandibulectomy. Intraoral radiographs revealed that the mass extended from the 2nd premolar to the 2nd molar, and encompassed the entire mandible to the ventral cortex. 

Treatment: Dr. Kellner performed the rim excision mandibulectomy, submitting the tumor and all debrided tissue to an oral histopathologist, who confirmed that the tumor was a compound odontoma. Oliver’s outcome was excellent.

Takeaway: It’s important to have oral masses evaluated. Performing an incisional biopsy to obtain a diagnosis is important, but sometimes initial results are misleading. It pays to have a veterinarian focused on dentistry and oromaxillofacial surgery review complicated case images and help to prognose, plan, and operate.

Patient: Jagger, 14-month-old male German Short Haired Pointer.

Reason for visit: Complicated crown fracture of left mandibular canine #304.

Exam/Diagnostics: Jagger’s primary care veterinarian referred him for a complicated crown fracture, noting pulp exposure at his awake physical exam. The owner was presented with the options for a complicated crown fracture: root canal therapy to save the tooth or surgical extraction. Jagger’s owners chose to save the tooth. 

Treatment: Dr. Kellner performed root canal therapy and placed a protective metal crown on the tooth.

Takeaway: Root canal therapy is the optimal treatment. It allows our patients to keep their structurally significant teeth and avoid surgical extraction, allowing for a faster recovery with fewer at-home restrictions.

• Broken or Discolored Teeth: treatment may include root canal therapy or extraction(s)
• Caries/Cavities
• Enamel Defects
• Feline Stomatitis and Gingivitis
• Jaw Fractures
• Oral Tumors: Biopsy and definitive surgery, including maxillectomy, mandibulectomy, and lingual masses
• Periodontitis: Treatment may include root planning, bone grafts, guided tissue regeneration, advanced gingival flap surgeries, and extractions

Oral Surgery: Simple and complex extractions, gingival enlargement excision, extraction of retained deciduous teeth, oromaxillofacial tumor surgery. 

Orthodontics: Treatment of malocclusions, including crown shortening and vital pulp therapy, odontoplasty, crown extensions or inclined planes, orthodontic movement of teeth, and selective extractions.

Prosthodontics: Placement of metal or tooth-colored crowns to protect damaged or root canal-treated teeth.

Periodontics: periodontal cleaning, root planing, guided tissue regeneration.

Endodontics: root canal therapy for broken or non-vital (discolored) teeth; crown shortening and vital pulp therapy

Senior, geriatric, and fragile pet dental/oral care: Dr. Kellner’s residency training included advanced anesthesia training. It’s common for our team to manage complex anesthesia cases. 

Dental imaging offered: In addition to the routine use of full mouth intraoral radiography, we utilize CT to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning for pets with trauma or oromaxillofacial tumors.