Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) at Dr. Treat

​​What is a COHAT and why should I schedule one?

• It allows us to evaluate your pet’s oral health and prevent severe periodontal disease - this is often referred to as a “dental cleaning” - but there is much more involved than just the cleaning!
  
  
•  We use the same equipment used in human dentistry - we scale, polish and clean under the gum line, where up to 40% of bacteria and diseases are present.
  
  
•  We will measure all pockets in the gums around each tooth and take full mouth digital tooth x-rays. These x-rays show us the 60-70% of each tooth that is invisible because it is below the gum line as well as the internal structure of each tooth.
  
  
• The process above lets us evaluate if your pet will need any dental surgery (extraction of teeth), oral mass removal, or gum (gingival) surgery. We can also apply antibiotic medication to areas where there is an infection under the gum. We may recommend these procedures to you following the assessment. This will often be performed in a staged (separate) second procedure depending on what needs to be done.
  
  
• We are in the game of saving teeth! Dental COHATs enable us to prevent tooth loss, bad breath, and pain by removing the plaque and bacteria that cause these issues. Dental disease causes chronic inflammation in the body and this can lead to a number of issues for your pet. Approximately 80% of cats and dogs over the age of three suffer from dental disease.
  
  
• Dental COHATs, in combination with the prophylactic care you provide at home, can help your pet maintain their lovable smile and optimize their health for the long term.
  
  

What is a Staged Dental Procedure? 

• Staging separates the comprehensive oral health assessment portion (COHAT) from the treatment portion (dental surgery). Dental surgery involves extraction of teeth, removal of oral masses or surgery of the gums if there is excess gum that is causing a problem. The treatment recommended by your Dr. Treat veterinarian will always be based on the initial procedure and the cost of this will be discussed with you in advance of any work done.
  
  
• This staged procedure will often be performed within 2-4 weeks following the initial COHAT procedure.
  

What about anesthesia, can this be done with just sedation?

• We do all of these procedures under anesthesia and for good reason - any damage to the outer tooth layer, the enamel, can occur if a pet moved during this procedure.  Trauma to the gums can also occur if we attempt to use our dental equipment while the pet is awake.
  
  
• About 40% of bacteria and dental disease is under the gum line. Pets that are awake do not tolerate deep cleaning under the gum line and this is why it is so important that this procedure is performed with the patient under anesthesia so we can clear away this significant cause of dental disease.
  
  
• We know that anesthesia can be a daunting concept for owners. At Dr. Treat, we perform preoperative bloodwork and a heart screen to ensure your pet is healthy for anesthesia. Our patients are carefully monitored by a dedicated anesthesia nurse during the procedure and we will always let you know when your pet has recovered from the procedure.