Toothy Thomson

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Canada
Toronto, ON
Toothy Thomson

Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist & Oral Surgeon 👩‍⚕️ This page is FOR YOUR education - 🦷❤️

02/14/2026

CAUGHT YA! 😉
GO get that toothbrush!
Don’t know how to get started?
Comment TOOTHBRUSH ⬇️

02/12/2026

Best practices for humans is not alwaysssss best for our pets.
While fluoride treatments are PART of cavity prevention/reduction in humans, this is NOT needed in cats & dogs.
Cavities (also known as carious lesions) have NEVER been reported in cats, AND
LESS than 5% of dogs.
Contrast this with 80% of cats and dogs have some stage of Periodontal Disease.
Thorough cleaning to remove ALL plaque, calculus and debris is the most important part of our pets oral health care.
To be THIS thorough, anesthesia IS REQUIRED.
Did you know this fact about cavities?!? 🦷

02/04/2026

OK, okay! It’s not a secret around here 🤫
I’ll keep YELLING 📣 about this until we see better tooth brushing compliance increase across the board!
IF you do not SHOW owners HOW to brush they will brush like they brush their OWN teeth. .. and that technique is NOT well tolerated.
Don’t have time to show them?
I have a IGTV where I walk them through it!

vetmedicine teethmatter brushyourteeth petoralhealth petoralhygiene veteducation onlinelearning

02/02/2026

Don’t give Dental Month discounts, do THIS instead ⬇️

Focus on Pet Dental EDUCATION Month.
Because our pets need dental care ALL. YEAR. ROUND.

And when we focus on providing that care in ONE month we are doing a disservice to ourselves, our teams, pet parents and MOST importantly the pets we care for!
And don’t even get me started on giving discounts for our services. .. .

BUT IF you must give a discount make it based on pet parents engaging with the resources you SHARE during Pet Dental Month, OR for starting a daily tooth brushing routine, OR for those that book their pet’s COHAT at their annual examination when it is recommended.

While this month is a great time to really focus on oral health and care and provide information and resources for your pet parents;
oral health should be discussed EVERY day, with EVERY pet!

01/31/2026

Yesssss it is HAPPENING!!
Comment MOBILE below to get on our mailing list and receive all the details!!
Referrals will open at toothythomson.ca on February 10th 2026!
Pleaseeeee SHARE this reel to spread the word! ♥️🦷

01/29/2026

“Brush the teeth you want to keep”
This is a saying for a reason...
. and I KNOW brushing your pets teeth can be a challenge... and that’s why I AM HERE - to HELP!
FOLLOW for more oral health advice!
And COMMENT “TOOTHBRUSHING” below for my tips and handout!

01/26/2026

When to crown amputate?!? 👑
This solely* depends on TYPE.
IF there is replacement resorption (Type 2) and thus NO visible Periodontal Ligament (PDL) present in RADIOGRAPHS, then crown amputation is appropriate.
IF the PDL can be seen (type 1) it’s full extraction for that tooth/root(s).
*the asterisk on this one?
Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis
Regardless of type ALL tooth material should be removed.
I could follow the PDL around the entire mesial root and most of the distal root. So EXTRACTION for this 🦷!
LIKE, SAVE & SHARE if this was helpful!
And follow .thomson for more veterinary dentistry content like this!
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01/18/2026

The Periodontal Surgery MVP 🏆. ..
ROOT PLANING!!!
When extraction is TOO much, BUT cleaning is not enough. .. ROOT PLANING.
This procedure is used for “pocket reduction”.
Cleaning of the root surface (and the inside of your flap = gingival curettage) will allow for attachment of the gingival connective tissue to the cementum lining the root.
Once healed it will result in a LONG JUNCTIONAL EPITHELIAL attachment.
While this is NOT the normal alveolar bone - to - PDL - to - cementum attachment, it will provide attachment and reduce the pocket!
Who’s excited to add this to your periodontal therapy tool kit 🧰 ?!??!
veterinarydentistry onlinelearning diseasefree calculus cementum toothythomson educationalreels veterinaryeducation vetdentistry periodontaldisease alwayslearning

01/14/2026

Ultrasonic scaling has its place. .. .. however, it will NEVER be enough on its own.
It can leave very thing calculus.
You need the tactile feel of these hand instruments to ensure all calculus is removed from the tooth surface.
It’s also very helpful to have:
Light 💡
AND magnification 🔎
DRYING the tooth with gauze to look for any
“chalky” tartar too is very helpful also.
Who does the cleaning in your practice?!?
Does anyone check the cleanings?!?

01/12/2026

Periapical lucency ≠ EXTRACTION
The presence of a radiographic lucency around the apex of a tooth indicates periapical pathology, which’s either: granuloma, cyst OR abscess.
*histopathology is required to confirm*
Periapical lucency = NON-vital tooth ☠️
Root Canal Treatment (RCT) is a treatment option for non-vital teeth.
IF the lucency were a “chevron” or PHYSIOLOGICAL lucency we would be able to ‘follow the PDL through’ the lucency.
However, in the pre-RCT radiograph the PDL cannot be followed through the lucency AND it has a “halo” shape extending along the sides of the root.
** see videos **
The “success rate” of 95% for RCTs in dogs is a combination ‘lack of failure’ and TRUE success.
‘Lack of failure’ is when there is NO lucency at the time of treatment AND one does not develop.
A TRUE success is when there IS a lucency (pathological) at the time of treatment, as in this case, that is resolving or completely resolved at radiographic recheck.
Did you know RCT was an option for these teeth??!?

01/10/2026

Your explorer is for MORE than finding tooth resorption. .. ..
Pulp exposure, whether it is due to a fracture, abrasion or attrition is an ORAL EXAM finding, NOT a radiographic finding.
☢️ Radiographs will help determine IF the tooth has signs of non-vitality (wider pulp and/or periapical lucency) BUT you need your probe ⛏️ to FEEL or your loupes 🔎 to SEE the pulp exposure.
Radiographic signs of non-vitality can take time, so make sure you are THOROUGHLY examining each tooth. 🦷
Alsoooooo, “uncomplicated” fractures CAN lead to non-vitality so don’t skip the radiographs.
SHARE this video with your colleagues 🦷❤️
Drop you questions and/thoughts below ⬇️
oralpain toothythomson veterinarydentistryeducation

02/09/2025

“I don’t want to disfigure my dog”. ..
This is something I often hear when presenting surgical options to pet parents for their pet’s oral tumours.
I KNOW the idea of a maxillectomy (or mandibulectomy) can sound very intimidating and maybe even ‘disfiguring’, however I am here to tell you - and SHOW you - that these surgeries can often go UNNOTICED!
I admit I am very biased being this handsome fella’s surgeon. .. but I think he looks quite dapper post-maxillectomy.
And it’s not “just” cosmesis. .. dogs (and even cats) can function very well even with part of their jaw missing.
The BEST part?!? This was a locally aggressive, but non-malignant tumour! ✌🏻 cancer!
Have you had experience with a pet or patient that has had oral oncological surgery? What was your experience??

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Toronto, ON

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https://www.vethive.com/, https://obivet.com/

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