Welcome to Tampa Bay Veterinary Dentistry serving the greater Tampa Bay metro area

Dr. Michael Peak and his veterinary staff are dedicated to providing optimal health care for pets, especially dogs and cats, and assisting your veterinarian to offer options for animal dental problems. Our veterinarian practice is part of a group of vet specialty practices collectively called Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists, which has been serving central Florida and the Tampa Bay region for more than 20 years. Our mission has always been to provide the highest quality veterinary care in a compassionate manner, while working with pet owners and their veterinarians to improve the health and happiness of pets and clients. Client satisfaction and disease resolution are top priority at our practices.

Your family veterinarian and his or her support staff are likely well versed in dental diseases and can provide the maintenance care your pets need, but in the event they diagnose a disorder that might benefit from advanced dental procedures, they may offer the option of referral. We prefer to work closely with them, discuss their findings on the phone, and receive copies of your pet’s records communicating any existing medical conditions and current medications along with any recent diagnostic tests or x-rays. All this information will help us provide a seamless transition into our practice and allow us to tailor treatment specific for your pet. Once our part of the examination or procedure is complete, we will communicate back to your family veterinarian what was done either verbally or via a letter with copies of any and all pertinent information to allow them to continue the maintenance from that point on.

What does our Veterinary Dental Specialist do? Board certified veterinary dental specialists are trained to evaluate genetic as well as acquired problems. Advanced diagnostics, including dental radiology and laboratory evaluations, allow proper diagnosis of the oral health and any medical problem prior to treatment planning. Since the veterinary dental specialist is trained in surgery, medicine and dentistry, a wide range of special treatment options can be implemented. Obviously dog, cat and other animal patients with oral health problems will require general anesthesia for evaluation and treatment. The veterinary dental specialist has been trained in the safe and effective use of anesthesia and also in pain management. Dr. MIke Peak and his staff will implement appropriate therapeutic programs to improve oral health and the general wellness of their patients.

What is a Board Certified Veterinary Specialist?
Veterinary Medicine has attained a degree of sophistication that is beyond the scope of any single individual. This, together with the increasingly important role of pets in our society, has resulted in the emergence of a number of veterinary specialties comparable to those in human medicine (e.g., cardiologists, radiologists, surgeons, internists, dentists). Dentistry is one of twenty specialties currently recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Specialty certification requires completing 3 to 6 years of training in the area of specialization beyond the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Requirements vary among individual “specialty colleges”, but all candidates must pass advanced credential requirements approved by the AVMA. In addition to comprehensive training in the area of expertise, a veterinarian must submit credentials of expertise to a review board in the specialty college and may be required to publish original scientific articles. Following acceptance of the credentials, an extensive written and practical examination must be successfully completed before being acknowledged as a specialist. When these requirements have been met, the applicant is then designated as a “Board Certified Specialist” or “Diplomate” of the respective specialty college. Veterinary dentistry specialty candidates who complete this process can then use the well earned titles, Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College, Board Certified Veterinary Dentist, Veterinary Dentist and Veterinary Dental Specialist.

What Veterinary Dentistry Services are offered?

Specialists in veterinary dentistry can offer many advanced treatments including:

• Endodontics: Pulp exposure treatment of fractured teeth/pulpitis, root canals, crown reductions and tooth abscesses.
• Periodontics: Treatment of periodontal disease, teeth scaling and polishing, root planing, mucogingival surgery and guided tissue and bone regeneration.
• Orthodontics: Correction of common malocclusions, orthodontic appliances, bite evaluations, and genetic counseling.
• Restorations: Cast metal crowns, fillings, esthetic bonding, bridges and implants.
• Dental Radiology: Permanent tooth assessment for puppies, dental disease, oral tumors.
• Oral Surgery: Difficult extractions, jaw fractures, palate defects, oronasal disease, oral tumors and teeth avulsions.
• Oral Diseases: Oral manifestations of systemic disease, gingivostomatitis, feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions and oral autoimmune disorders.

What are Dr. Peak’s qualifications and credentials?

Dr. Peak graduated with honors from Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. After graduation he spent 4 years in general veterinary practice where he developed an interest in veterinary dentistry. In 1998, Dr. Peak was accepted to a dental residency program at the Dallas Dental Service Animal Clinic in Dallas, TX under the direction and supervision of two Board Certified Veterinary Dentists, Dr. Robert Wiggs and Dr. Heidi Lobprise. This residency was one of four in the United States at the time. In July of 2000, Dr. Peak completed his residency, completed credentialing process for the American Veterinary Dental College, and subsequently passed the American Veterinary Dental College Board Certification Examination. Some of his positions and honors are listed below:

• Dr. Peter Emily Outstanding Resident 2000
• AVDC Examination Committee member, 2001-2006
• AVDC Examination Committee Chair, 2003-2006
• AVDC Board of Directors, 2002-present
• AVDC Fiscal and Audit Committee, 2002-2005
• AVDC President, 2006-2008
• Secretary, Pinellas County Veterinary Medical Society, 2003-2005

Dr. Michael Peak has published several articles relating to veterinary dentistry and believes strongly that the education of other veterinarians and the general public about dental disease in pets is the key to providing optimal oral health. He has lectured and performed wet-labs in many locations and veterinary practices across the country from California to Maine. His interests outside of veterinary dentistry include spending time with his wife, Erin, his two sons Matthew and Fletcher, being outside, and inshore fishing.

This spotted hyena knows an abscessed tooth is no laughing matter. With their bone crushing powerful jaws, hyena's need strong, healthy teeth. Anesthesia and pain management are best handled by an experienced dental veterinarian. Here, Dr. Michael Peak is removing the source of infection, the upper canine tooth. Pet Dentist - Tampa Bay Florida veterinary dentistry - domestic and exotic animal care.

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The Pet Dentist

R. Michael Peak, DVM - The Pet Dentist in Tampa Bay Florida
Veterinary Dentistry - Tampa Bay Florida; Pinellas, Hillsborough & Pasco County
Dog Dentist - Cat Dentist - Helping Your Pet with Teeth Cleaning, Tooth Repair and Oral Care