This 15 year old patient had severe tartar build up and red, swollen gums that bled easily.  The creamy, gray substance at the gum line is pus.  Dr. Reilly commonly hears that a pet’s mouth cannot possibly hurt because the pet is still eating.  This dog was eating just fine, but this degree of infection is most certainly agonizing.  This level of oral infection had contributed to an earlier severe kidney infection that was nearly fatal.

 The teeth were cleaned on all surfaces.  Ultrasonic and hand scaling were used.  Instruments were used under the gum tissue to clean the tartar build up there.  The tooth surfaces were polished with pumice.  The teeth look great now!!!  Except…
Any hospital that does not do a tooth by tooth inspection and full mouth x-rays would have missed the 15 teeth that were diseased beyond saving.

 Most notably, both upper canine teeth (the “fangs”) had infection so severe that it had eroded the bone between the mouth and the nasal passages.  This condition is called an oronasal fistula.  Both sides of the nasal passages were packed with solidified pus.
Dr. Reilly first had to surgically remove the teeth and evacuate the pus from the nasal passages.  Without careful planning for the closure of the gum tissue over the defects, the fistulas will not heal and will leave a permanent hole between the nose and the mouth.  Dr. Reilly has received special training in the repair of oronasal fistulas.  Dr. Reilly was able to repair both sides successfully as well as extract the remaining diseased teeth.  This little dog now has a new outlook on life!