Amy Stone, DVM, PhD

Incorporating Dentistry into a Preventative Health Care Program

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) have recently introduced the preventative care guidelines for canine and feline health. These guidelines place dentistry as a critical component of health care throughout an animal's lifetime. Small animal owners rarely associate dental health with preventative care that maintains a quality relationship between owner and pet. Halitosis, pain and tooth loss can lead to difficulties in an animal's comfort and function. It is the veterinarian's job to start at the first pediatric visit advising preventative oral care. Additionally, preventative care in dentistry leads to profits for the veterinarian over the lifetime of the pet. The preventative care guidelines promote dental recommendations for every dog and every cat. As a profession, we need to be advising clients about their pet's dental health at every wellness visit. If we are not, we are missing an opportunity to do the best for our patients and an important profit center for our practice. This discussion will focus on ways to incorporate dental care into our daily practice.