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The oral examination is an important part of the physical examination of every patient. In neonate and adolescent dogs, it is important to inspect the oral cavity for congenital and acquired dental and oral pathology. This article reviews the more common pediatric and juvenile dental anomalies that affect dogs in order to provide a resource for the basic understanding of the oral cavity in these patients., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this article is to provide small animal veterinarians in private practice a guideline for interpretation of the most common findings in canine intraoral radiology. Normal oral and dental anatomy is presented. A brief review of variations of normal, common periodontal and endodontic pathology findings and developmental anomalies is provided., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Dental disease can have a profound effect on the comfort and well-being of pets. Oral disease can be difficult to detect. Patients often hide their discomfort. The identification and treatment or removal of diseased teeth are the responsibility of the veterinarian. When diseased teeth cannot be saved by specialized care, extraction of teeth is necessary. Proper extraction of teeth in dogs and cats can be challenging and frustrating, but with review of the oral anatomy, proper instrumentation, and gentle tissue-handling techniques, this can be a rewarding part of clinical practice., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Dental radiography is a necessary diagnostic modality in small animal practice. It is not possible to accurately assess and diagnose tooth resorption, periodontal disease, endodontic disease, neoplasia and injury without it. Dental radiography is also necessary for treatment and assessment of the patient postoperatively., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Although there are certain differences warranting specific options therapeutically in young animals, many of the basic dental principles still apply. The key is examining the oral cavity of every patient at each visit and knowing how to recognize and manage any abnormalities encountered. Providing sound oral care from the time of a patient's first visit can figure significantly in a lifelong commitment to oral health that can have a positive impact on the patient's overall health.

The bulk of the tooth, that is, the root and most of the periodontium, can be visualized only by means of radiographs. Consequently, a lot of pathology remains undiscovered if clinical examination does not involve radiography. Although lesions such as caries can be recognized without radiography, the full extent of the lesions, and whether pulpal and periapical involvement is present as a consequence, cannot be assessed. In other words, a clinical examination is not complete without radiography. Periodontal disease, endodontic disease, caries, resorptive lesions, fractures, bone pathology, and neoplastic conditions all require radiography for a more complete diagnosis, thus allowing optimal planning of treatment. It is also necessary to know the normal radiographic anatomy to be able to identify the abnormal. Moreover, many dental procedures can be carried out only under radiographic control. Checking adequacy of procedures and success of treatment relies heavily on radiography. In short, radiographs are required to reach a diagnosis and thus plan treatment optimally, to be able to perform certain procedures, and to be able to assess the outcome of treatment performed. Practicing dentistry without using radiography as a tool would be considered negligent in human dentistry. In the author's opinion, the same would apply to veterinary dentistry.

In general practice, dental radiography is currently being performed more often as a treatment planning technique during routine dental prophylactic procedures than ever before. Medical radiography units, although still useful for the determination of bone cancer, mineral deficiencies, and fracture studies, are yielding to the use of more versatile dental radiograph machines that are being installed in the dental operatory and expose only the dental film. Currently, the technology of intraoral digital radiography, photography, and videography is available. Digital images can be enhanced, preserved on Polaroid film, or stored directly into computer data banks, without the use of dental film. This article acquaints the reader with digital technology, but deals primarily with traditional film-based oral-dental radiographic examination technique. The equipment and techniques described are affordable and well within the capabilities of the general practitioner. The importance of being able to produce dental radiographs of excellent quality is basic when providing competent dental care.

The key to veterinary dentistry is recognition of veterinary dental disease. This article is intended as an introduction to oral disease. Starting with the teeth themselves, this overview will progress to the supporting tissues and remaining oral structures.

Inflammatory conditions of the feline mouth are commonly encountered in small animal practice. Although the majority can be attributed to dental disease and a small percentage are due to autoimmune diseases, the eosinophilic granuloma complex, neoplasia, and other miscellaneous syndromes, many cases appear to be due to a gingivitis-stomatitis-pharyngitis complex, which is likely multifactorial in origin. Viruses, bacterial infection, diet, dental disease, oral conformation, genetic predisposition, hypersensitivities, immunoinsufficiencies, and other defects in oral defense mechanisms may all be contributory. The complexities of this syndrome have made it one of the most challenging diagnostic and therapeutic problems in feline medicine.

The impact and relevance of dentistry in a general feline practice is detailed. Hospital policy and protocol are described for client education, preanesthetic evaluation, dental procedures, and recall programs. A discussion of commonly observed feline dental problems is included.

Periodontal disease and chronic gingivitis/stomatitis are the most common feline dental diseases. With routine dental care and increased emphasis on home oral hygiene, these diseases can be controlled. Cats can be seen with a number of other dental disorders, and improved treatment methods such as restorations of early subgingival resorptive lesions, endodontic therapy, and orthodontic therapy can be performed successfully. More study and research are necessary about the gingivitis/stomatitis syndrome and subgingival resorptive lesions so that improved prevention and treatment recommendations can be made.

It must be emphasized that any examination of a supposedly healthy patient must be thorough and careful, for the early detection of disease demands that minute and inconspicuous deviations from the normal be evaluated carefully. The detection of disease occurs during the examination procedure, and from a practical point of view, it appears that clinicians employ at least the following three types of examination, depending upon circumstances: the comprehensive examination; the screening examination; and the emergency or limited examination. Although the latter two types represent a justifiable compromise with respect to the comprehensive examination in light of limitations of time or resources, the general inaccessibility of the patient in veterinary practice suggests that one should make the most of the opportunity for examination when it presents itself. A complete, thorough examination is not, by definition, a time-consuming and expensive procedure, particularly if there is no disease present. Exam-related expense is more a function of a differential diagnostic effort once clinical abnormality is detected, and then it is certainly justified. The term "diagnosis" originates from a Greek word meaning to distinguish or to discern. For the clinician, it refers to the process of identification of a disease by investigating, in all their manifestations, the signs and symptoms presented by the patient. The word diagnosis describes not just a "disease identified," but the process by which the identification is made. The procedure for making a diagnosis includes the following four primary steps: Collection of the facts. Analysis of the data for relative importance. Correlation between synthesized data and descriptive features of suspected diseases. Selection of the disease that best explains the collected facts and apparent disturbed physiologic processes of the patient. The process of diagnosis usually results in the naming of a disease. It is well to remember that a name is only a shorthand method of describing a set of signs and symptoms characteristic of a particular disease state. Emphasis should always be focused upon the clinical facts collected, not on the name of the disease selected. Oral disease in animals results from an extremely diverse variety of environmental, dietary, and genetic circumstances. The clinical appearances of the disease process can vary considerably within a single species and may vary enormously from one species to another, particularly considering the contrasts between some captive environments and other natural habitats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Some of the clinical problems most frequently seen in veterinary dentistry and their surgical solutions are discussed. Extraction of teeth, surgical repositioning of teeth, tooth transplant, oral abscesses of tooth origin, impaction of teeth, repair of maxillary canine oronasal fistula, and simple techniques for oral wiring are among the issues considered.