DENTISTRY
Figure 10B. A carbon dioxide laser used to decrease the amount of
bacteria and inflamed tissues and encourage scar formation.
Figure 11A. Deeply embedded hairs populating the gingiva surround-
ing the maxillary and mandibular canines as well as the visible inci-
sors.
Figure 11B. More embedded hairs exposed.
Figure 10C. Decreased inflammation two months after laser therapy.
Preventing recurrence
First, investigate why the dog or cat is licking and chewing
on its skin. Is it secondary to obsessive-compulsive disor-
ders, parasites (e.g. fleas, ticks, Demodex species mites),
infection (e.g, folliculitis) or an allergy to food or to some-
thing in its environment? It is much better to treat the un-
derlying cause than to treat the dreadful effects.
After removing the hairs and treating the gingival and per-
iodontal diseases present, have your client examine the
pet’s mouth daily, paying close attention to embedded
hairs emerging from the marginal gingiva. Teach your cli-
ent how to use a cotton-tipped applicator to tease the
hairs out of the periodontal pockets (Figures 11A-11C)
Issue 03 | JUNE 2017 | 38
Figure 11C. Most of the hairs have been removed from the mandib-
ular canine gingiva.