Resource Center
For veterinary teams
Dental discharge template
Streamline the end of your busy day and increase compliance by using AAHA’s time-saving, customizable, printable discharge instructions.
Or, order Dental discharge instructions forms.
Preventing iatrogenic anesthetic complications
Nothing is more heart-wrenching than medical mistakes that injure a pet. Anesthetic events are complicated enough. Here are simple ways to prevent common anesthetic-related injuries that will benefit your team and your patients.
Roles and responsibilities for veterinary teams
Veterinarians rely heavily on their entire team to provide outstanding dental care. But there are limits to what everyone can and should do. Check out these links to learn how to be efficient AND stay within the legal boundaries of practice.
- Team roles and responsibilities (AAHA)
- Authority of veterinary technicians and other non-veterinarians to perform dental procedures (AVMA)
Dental records
Record and organize the results of dental examinations and cleanings while meeting AAHA standards with this fully updated form.
Nonanesthetic dentistry
AAHA does not consider nonanesthetic dentistry an appropriate procedure because of patient stress, risk of injury and aspiration, and lack of diagnostic capabilities. Because this procedure is intended to only clean the visible surface of the teeth, it provides the pet owner with a false sense of security.
To learn more from AAHA and the American Veterinary Dental College, click on the following links:
- 5 facts about anesthesia and dentistry that all your clients should know (AAHA)
- Know the facts about anesthesia-free dentistry (American Veterinary Dental College)
Dental and surgical instrument references
Companion-Animal Dental and Surgical Reference: This pocket reference guide can train your team to quickly identify, stock, and properly maintain the tools you use on a daily basis. Along with the instrument name and picture, this quick-access tool provides the purpose and features of surgical, dental, orthopedic, ophthalmologic, and other types of instruments.
Dental terminology – nomenclature
Be sure you’re all on the same page by using consistent terminology from the American Veterinary Dental College when describing dental disease and treatments.
2013 Implementation Toolkit
Review classic wisdom from this 2013 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats booklet.
For pet owners
Don’t chew on this!
Well-meaning pet owners can accidentally choose treats and chew-toys that can damage their pets’ teeth. Learn which items can be dangerous and which can actually improve dental health.
VOHC-approved dental products
Regular use of diets, treats, and other products approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council can reduce the severity of dental disease in pets. Check out the robust list of items here.
Dental Anesthesia pet health brochures
This best-selling brochure answers these client questions:
- How does anesthesia make dental work possible for my pet?
- Why is anesthesia necessary?
- What special precautions are taken to protect my pet?
Your Pet’s Dental Care
Another best-selling brochure from AAHA that answers:
- Why is dental care important for my pet?
- What are the physical signs of dental disease?
- What happens during an oral examination and dental cleaning?
- Why is anesthesia necessary?
- How can I take care of my pet’s teeth at home?
Healthy Mouth, Healthy Pet: Why Dental Care Matters
This timesaving visual exam room tool uses hundreds of images and illustrated charts to show clients precisely why high-quality dental care is needed for pets and the benefits it provides.
Understanding Your Pet’s Health: A Visual Guide
Think of this as the ultimate client education tool. It’s highly visual, written for laymen, and laminated for a long, well-thumbed lifetime of educating clients in the exam room.
Additional resources
On demand, RACE® approved continuing education:
- Introduction to veterinary dentistry course (Midmark)
- Managing periodontal disease (Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health)
- Double your dentistry® course (Midmark)
Educational videos:
- Double Your Dentistry® introduction video (Midmark)
- Introduction to veterinary dentistry (Midmark)
Other client education resources:
Hill’s ® Pet Nutrition Inc.
- Your pet’s mouth
- Understanding oral care – Dogs
- Understanding oral care – Cats
- Stages of periodontal disease – poster
Veterinary Oral Health Council
World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Dental Guidelines
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., CareCredit, Hill’s ® Pet Nutrition Inc., and Midmark
