Christine Hawke(BSc(Vet),BVSc(Hons),PhD MACVSc (Veterinary Dentistry))Christine graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Sydney in 1993. She worked in small animal general practice in Australia and the UK for five years before returning to Sydney in 1999 to commence her PhD studies in immunogenetics at the University of Sydney . After successfully completing these in 2003, and a break to start her family, she returned to the University of Sydney as a Lecturer in the Faculty of Veterinary Science in 2005. Christine's interest in small animal dentistry resulted in her gaining membership (by examination) of the Dental Chapter of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in 2006. She is a committee member and NSW representative of the Australian Veterinary Dental Society, and a member of the American Veterinary Dental Society. She is passionate about her patients, and strives to help every animal have the healthy, pain-free mouth they deserve. Christine founded Sydney Pet Dentistry in 2007, and has limited her clinical practice to small animal dentistry since then. In 2009 she commenced her residency in veterinary dentistry through the American Veterinary Dental College under the mentorship of Dr David Clarke, one of only two registered veterinary dental specialists in Australia. She is also active in research, with a particular interest in feline tooth resorption.
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ARH is excited to offer a wide range of clinical dental services to small animal practices in Sydney and its surrounding areas.
Our services range from professional periodontal therapy and difficult extractions through to root canal treatment and treatment of malocclusions, clients appreciate being offered the best treatment options for their pets' dental problems.
A few of our services are list below.
PERIODONTICS
It's not just about scaling and polishing - periodontal treatment options now go far beyond this! We can provide detailed assessment and management plans, and offer alternatives to extraction, including closed and open root planing, subgingival curettage and gingival flap surgery. We also offer advice on home care options for caring for teeth and gums in between professional treatments.
EXTRACTIONS
Difficult extractions such as canines and premolar or molar teeth can be performed in a timely and efficient manner. This is especially important in compromised patients where duration of anaesthesia is a key consideration. We perform surgical extractions and use local analgesia techniques to minimise pain and general anaesthesic dose requirements. Dental radiography helps us to plan the safest approach to minimise complications.
RADIOGRAPHY
Our state of the art digital x-ray system is used in most of our procedures and is a crucial tool in the diagnosis of, and treatment planning for ,many problems such as periodontal disease, feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions, fractured or abscessed teeth and much more. Digital xrays require less radiation than conventional film, and remove the waiting time associated with processing films as the image appears on the computer screen within seconds.
ENDODONTICS
As in humans, broken, damaged and infected teeth are a source of chronic pain for animals. Endodontic therapy is an alternative to difficult or traumatic extraction of important teeth such as the canines and carnassials, allowing function to be preserved. Root canal therapy is generally the preferred option, however in some cases (especially in young animals) vital pulpotomy and direct root capping procedures may even save the tooth's life.
ORTHODONTICS
Due to genetics, trauma, disease or sheer bad luck, some pets have malocclusions, where the normal alignmnent of the jaws and teeth is disrupted. In some cases this is only a cosmetic issue, and treatment is not generally recommended for these pets. However, these problems can cause life-long pain if teeth are traumatising the oral tissues or other teeth. We can offer several solutions, from extraction or crown reduction (tooth shortening) through to use of orthodontic appliances.
RESTORATIONS
Although dental caries are rare in pets, some traumatic or developmental problems may benefit from sealing or bonding exposed dentine, or placement of fillings. Fillings are also placed during endodontic procedures such as root canal therapy and vital pulpotomy. We generally use 'white fillings', just like those used in humans!
Dr Christine Hawke is available every Thursday for appointments at Homebush.
Please contact reception on 02 9758 8666 to make an appointment or to speak with Christine directly.
