Oral and dental presentations in dogs and cats requiring urgent care

Abstract

Background: Although many oral and dental injuries are not life threatening per se, some conditions require urgent treatment to avoid unnecessary pain, impaired function and tooth loss. Adequate diagnosis and treatment will have a significant impact on the comfort and long-term prognosis for the patient avoiding the sequela of untreated orofacial injuries. In almost all cases, the diagnosis of dental pathologies requires general anaesthesia, dental probing and charting, and diagnostic imaging (dental radiography and cone beam CT or conventional CT).

Aim of the article: Despite being less common than in other disciplines, oral and dental emergencies do occur and cause severe distress to the patient. This article describes several dental and oral pathologies and the approach to diagnosis so that a treatment plan can be provided to colleagues and owners.