The phrase “food be thy medicine” can apply to preventive dental healthcare. Commercial diets specifically designed to retard the accumulation of plaque and calculus are especially helpful if the owner is unable or unwilling to brush a pet’s teeth.
A comprehensive knowledge of oral and dental anatomy and physiology is imperative for recognizing and treating disease in the oral cavity and teeth.
It is important to communicate with pet owners the importance of dental disease prevention strategies, beginning at the first visit and then throughout the patient’s life stages.
The long-held dogma that specific oral bacteria are directly responsible for infection in distant organs is oversimplified and difficult to prove.
A thorough history of patient health should always include an evaluation and update on systemic maladies as well as an evaluation and review of oral hygiene efforts performed by the pet owner.
Recommending and providing optimal dental treatment recommendations for your patients sometimes includes recognizing when they should be referred to a specialist.
For both veterinary professionals and pet owners, the ability to recognize dental pain is limited because dogs and cats often mask overt signs of oral discomfort.
Oral health should be discussed at the first appointment and every visit thereafter.
Guidance for clients on appropriate chew toys and the benefits of regular home dental care.
Written and verbal client communication is fundamental to the maintenance of pet oral health.
