Dental Cleaning 12 Step Program…..

Why 12? Dental cleaning must be performed in a certain manner. Dental cleaning must be performed in a certain manner. All 12 steps are important and interlinked All 12 steps are important and interlinked When one step is not performed, long term benefits suffer. When one step is not performed, long term benefits suffer.

Step 1 Oral exam on the animal while awake Oral exam on the animal while awake Check for swellings and painful areas Check for swellings and painful areas Is there swelling of the eyes? Is there swelling of the eyes? Is there pain in the mouth? Is there pain in the mouth? Examine each tooth individually Examine each tooth individually

Step 2 Oral exam while under anesthesia Oral exam while under anesthesia Individual tooth exam for mobility, fractures, malocclusion, and periodontal disease Individual tooth exam for mobility, fractures, malocclusion, and periodontal disease Severe bone loss, rear root mandibular 1 st molar tooth due to periodontal disease

Step 3 Supragingival (above the gumline) plaque and tartar removal Supragingival (above the gumline) plaque and tartar removal Use forceps, hand instruments, and power scaling equipment Use forceps, hand instruments, and power scaling equipment Ultrasonic scaler removes plaque and tartar from the teeth Ultrasonic scaler removes plaque and tartar from the teeth Only use on crowns and exposed root surfaces Only use on crowns and exposed root surfaces Ultrasonic Cleaning

Step 4 Subgingival scaling, root planing, curettage Subgingival scaling, root planing, curettage Root scaling: removal of plaque and calculus from the root surface Root scaling: removal of plaque and calculus from the root surface Root planing: Smoothing of roughened root surfaces by removing embedded calculus Root planing: Smoothing of roughened root surfaces by removing embedded calculus Curettage: removal of the gingival pocket’s diseased soft tissue inner surface Curettage: removal of the gingival pocket’s diseased soft tissue inner surface

Step 5 Polishing Polishing Smoothes out the defects and removes plaque missed during previous steps Smoothes out the defects and removes plaque missed during previous steps Pumice or polishing paste is used Pumice or polishing paste is used

Step 6 Irrigation Irrigation Diseased tissue and plaque are removed from the pocket (or sulcus) Diseased tissue and plaque are removed from the pocket (or sulcus) Water spray is commonly used Water spray is commonly used

Step 7 Fluoride Fluoride Placed on dry teeth and allowed to remain undisturbed for at least four minutes Placed on dry teeth and allowed to remain undisturbed for at least four minutes

Step 8 Post cleaning examination and diagnostics Post cleaning examination and diagnostics Individual teeth are examined again to see if anything was missed or more problems were discovered Individual teeth are examined again to see if anything was missed or more problems were discovered

Step 9 Charting Charting Record missing, loose, fractured, and discolored teeth as well as gingival recession and other things Record missing, loose, fractured, and discolored teeth as well as gingival recession and other things

Step 10 Therapy Therapy Treat lesions if necessary Treat lesions if necessary Records Records Must include: Must include: Dental care performed Dental care performed Follow up recommendations Follow up recommendations Antibiotics dispensed Antibiotics dispensed Next radiographs and exam needed info Next radiographs and exam needed info Home care instructions Home care instructions

Step 11 Home care instructions Home care instructions Home care is the single most important procedure the owner can do to maintain oral health Home care is the single most important procedure the owner can do to maintain oral health Includes toothbrusing!! Includes toothbrusing!!

Step 12 Follow-up progress Follow-up progress Sometimes checked monthly (if it was a severe problem) Sometimes checked monthly (if it was a severe problem) Usually checked yearly at exams Usually checked yearly at exams