Prepare work area by laying out instruments

DVM oral exam

Anesthesia-check machine, intubate, inflate cuff, place animal on slight incline w/towel under head

Hook patient up to ECG, Doppler, etc

Cap, gloves, etc

Irrigate mouth w/dilute Nolvasan

RVT oral exam and charting

Intraoral radiographs

Remove gross calculus to crack off large calculus chunks w/dental crown extractor (NOT ON CATS) or tartar forceps

Probe/Explorer-insert probe into pocket around each tooth by keeping probe perpendicular to each tooth and measure depth of pocket on chart

Ultrasonic scaling/cleaning

Hand scaling-insert curette into gingival sulcus and use small pull strokes to remove calculus. When you hear sound change from scritch scritch to squeak squeak you're done

Polish three grades of pumice paste-coarse, medium, flour

Rinse w/Nolvadent-blow air on teeth when done because when teeth dry any tartar left behind will dry a white color

DVM/VMD or RVT/LVT (if legal in your state/province) extract any teeth and record when done

Fluoride treatment and Copal Varnish if needed on cats or Pro-V Seal

Remember anesthesia monitoring during prophylaxis! Follow prophylaxis w/anesthesia recovery procedures

Home care-soft diet of canned food 2-3 days afterwards for extractions, educate clients on tooth brushing, etc

Mask with eye shield for PPE

Jodi Lynn Dziedzic, RVT and Vickie Byard, CVT, VSPN Members