Dentistry & Oral Surgery Service

Contact

Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service

Telephone:
(530) 752-1393 (hospital)

Location: 
UC Davis Health Science District
VMTH
1 Garrod Drive
Davis, California

Discover the latest dentistry clinical trials at UC Davis

Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service

Welcome to the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service of the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Our service is housed in the state-of-the-art Michael R. Floyd Dental Operatory and provides a full range of dental services for dogs and cats. In addition, other species are served in cooperation with other hospital services.

The Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service offer a complete range of dental services for dogs and cats. As all procedures are performed under general anesthesia, all patients receive a comprehensive general medical examination prior to the dental procedure. Full-mouth dental radiographs are obtained of all new patients.

The Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service is referral only. For an appointment, please work with your primary veterinarian to have your animal referred to the service.

REFERRAL FORM

Clinical Activities and Procedures

Advanced Imaging
Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), which delivers high resolution images in two and three dimensional views, allows for a more precise analysis of bone structure, tooth orientation and oral and maxillofacial disorders. These highly accurate scans are comparable to conventional CTs but have a much lower radiation dose. The major advantage of CBCT over conventional CT is its spatial resolution and rapid acquisition of thin sections.

Endodontics
Various types of root canal treatment are routinely performed for saving fractured teeth with exposed pulp, abscessed teeth, or teeth with diseased pulp.

Oral Medicine
Oral manifestations of systemic diseases, immune-mediated diseases and chronic oral inflammatory diseases may pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

Oral Surgery
Difficult extractions can be facilitated by utilizing surgical extraction techniques. For example, the removal of part of the bone plate that overlays the tooth root can be performed. This is especially useful with large teeth such as the canines. Advanced surgical techniques are used to repair accidental jaw injuries or conditions such as cleft palate. Various types of oral tumors can be removed surgically with very good functional and cosmetic results. Mandibular fractures, even in patients with multiple fractures or missing bone fragments, can be effectively stabilized and healed with the use of advanced composite splints or miniplates. Novel techniques of jaw reconstruction can now be effectively employed in selected cases using titanium plate formation for regrowth of diseased or injured areas of jawbone.

Orthodontics
Animals with an abnormal bite receive a comprehensive orthodontic evaluation, which may form the basis for genetic counseling. Malocclusions are only treated by orthodontic means if they cause pain and discomfort. Displacement of lower canine teeth, a common problem in the dog, causes serious trauma to the hard palate. The condition can be treated successfully by installing an orthodontic bite plate, which avoids the need for tooth extraction.

Periodontics
Routine treatment includes periodontal charting, supragingival scaling, subgingival periodontal debridement, and polishing. Advanced periodontal treatment, such as periodontal flap surgery or guided tissue regeneration, is available if indicated.

Prosthodontics
Crown restorations and bridges can repair severely worn or fractured teeth.

VIDEOS ON HOME DENTAL CARE FOR PETS
While these videos were created by the UC Davis Dentistry & Oral Surgery Service many years ago, the information in them is still current and useful for dog and cat owners on how to properly care for their animal's teeth. We are in the process of producing new videos. Stay tuned for future videos on animal oral health.
Home Dental Care for Dogs (video)

Home Dental Care for Cats (video)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How long does it take to get an appointment with the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service?
  • Our service receives referral patients by appointment on Monday and Wednesday every week. The timing of the appointment will depend on the nature of the disease. If you are concerned that your pet requires attention prior to the first available appointment, please call (530) 752-2470 to discuss this with the service Coordinator or a clinician. Emergency cases are also seen after hours and over weekends.
  • Do I have to have a referral from a private practice veterinarian in order to be able to make an appointment with the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service?
  • Yes. The Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service is referral only. For an appointment, please work with your primary veterinarian to have your animal referred to the service. REFERRAL FORM
  • How long will the receiving appointment take?
  • The appointment will take 30 - 60 minutes.
  • When will the dental procedure be done?
  • The procedure for your pet will be scheduled following the consultation appointment. The procedure date is scheduled dependent on the doctor's assessment at the consultation appointment, usually within 1-4 weeks.
  • Why does my pet have to stay overnight?
  • In order to make sure your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia, the Anesthesia Service requires you to leave your pet overnight. This allows us and them to examine your pet thoroughly for any signs of disease, go over laboratory findings, and design an anesthetic protocol that is right for your pet. It also keeps your pet from getting fed accidentally before the procedure.
  • When can my pet go home?
  • Discharge is usually between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM the day of the procedure. Some patients may benefit from staying an extra night.
  • How often will I speak to someone at the hospital if my pet is hospitalized?
  • Every day, the clinician or the student working closely with your pet will contact you to give you an update on your pet's progress.
  • How risky is anesthesia?
  • Anesthesia is much safer than it has been in the past. Although there are always some risk involved when undergoing anesthesia, UC Davis has one of, if not the, best Anesthesia Service in the world. Your pet will have an anesthetic protocol tailored to his needs, as well as a dedicated anesthetist monitoring him during the entire procedure. There have been very few anesthetic-related deaths.
  • My dog has just fractured one of his big teeth, what should I do?
  • There is a window of up to 48 hours from fracture occurrence in which a veterinary dentist could intervene and by performing a procedure named partial coronal pulpectomy (or vital pulp therapy) save the tooth vitality (with about 80% success rate). So for saving the vitality of the tooth, professional intervention is essential up to 48 hours from fracture. If more than 48 hours have passed since the fracture occurred a root canal treatment can be performed.
  • I have heard that a broken tooth is fine, and we can just watch it. Why do you want to treat it?
  • Fractured teeth with pulp exposure are at high risk of developing other complications. Initially, the tooth is very painful as the pulp is made up of nerves and blood vessels that are exposed to the air. After the pulp dies, your pet will likely experience a dull ache associated with that part of the mouth. Over time, the dead pulp becomes infected, and a tooth root abscess may develop. Tooth root abscesses are painful and can have effects on your pet's general health. Taking care of this tooth before it develops is kinder to your pet than simply waiting for a problem to develop.
  • Why can't I take my pet to the groomer to have his teeth cleaned? The groomer doesn't use anesthesia, so it's safer.
  • It is illegal to perform awake dental cleanings in California without veterinarian supervision. Additionally, it is impossible to do a thorough cleaning with your pet awake. Your groomer may be able to remove the obvious superficial calculus from your pet's teeth, but he/she cannot get under the gums, where the cleaning is needed. We have seen many pets with 'clean' teeth that need to have many extractions because the underlying periodontal disease was not fully addressed. No radiographs can be taken, thus a full diagnostic examination is not performed.
  • My animal is being aggressive to people and/or other animals. Would extraction or 'clipping' of the teeth help?
  • Aggressiveness is a behavioral problem and therefore must be diagnosed and treated as such. Removing or amputating the teeth will only give the false impression that the animal is no longer a threat. The American Veterinary Medical Association has ruled that this type of procedure is inappropriate.
  • How will my animal eat if most or all of the teeth are extracted during dental treatment?
  • Dogs and cats that have no teeth at all are still able to eat regular food, including dry kibble, as long as its size is not too big according to the size of the animal.
  • Can dental disease affect my pet's general health?
  • The most common dental disease in dogs and cats is periodontal disease, which is a gradual but progressive loss of the supportive structure of the teeth caused by the oral bacteria accumulating in the plaque and calculus. The discomfort and pain could cause the pet to change its eating patterns, loose weight, and be less active. The bacteria accumulated in the plaque and calculus may reach the blood-stream causing inflammation and thus compromising other internal organs such as kidneys and liver. In animals with endocrine diseases such as diabetes, the presence of periodontal disease could be the cause for the animal not to respond to the prescribed treatment

Faculty

Arzi

Boaz Arzi, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FF-AVDC-OMFS
Professor - Chief of Service

Soltero

Maria Soltero-Rivera, DVM, DAVDC
Assistant Professor

Goldschmidt

Stephanie Goldschmidt, BVM&S, DAVDC
Assistant Professor

Hatcher

David C. Hatcher, DDS, MSc, MRCD(c)
Health Science Clinical Professor Volunteer

Lommer

Milinda Lommer, DVM, DAVDC
Health Science Clinical Associate Professor Volunteer


House Officers

Evenhuis

Janny Evenhuis, DVM
Resident III

Bonacini

Serena Bonacini, DVM
Resident I

volk

Allison Volk, DVM
Resident I


Staff

kan

Kimi Kan-Rohrer, RDHAP, BSDH
Dental Hygienist

Vorderbruggen

Trudi Vorderbruggen
Veterinary Technician

kraft

Jaci Kraft, RVT
Veterinary Technician

DOSS team 2023