What do our Veterinary Dental Specialists 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.
Our patients with oral health problems require general anesthesia for evaluation and treatment. The veterinary dental specialist has been trained in the safe and effective use of anesthesia as well as pain management. Our board certified doctors and staff will implement appropriate therapeutic programs to improve oral health and the general wellness of your pets.
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-two 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 rigorous 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.