Veterinary Dentistry

Position:

"The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) defines veterinary dentistry as a health discipline that comprises all aspects of oral health care in all animal species, including, but not limited to the cleaning, adjustment, filing, extraction, or repair of teeth and treatment of, or surgery to related structures.  Veterinary dentistry is part of the practice of veterinary medicine.  As with other areas of veterinary practice, veterinary dentistry requires a veterinarian-client-patient relationship to protect the health, safety, and welfare of animals.”

Background:

• Professional veterinary dental care promotes optimal dental health, enhancing an animal's quality of life, overall health, and longevity;
• Veterinary dentistry is a component of veterinary practice because it requires diagnosis and treatment that demands extensive knowledge of anatomy, anesthesiology, pharmacology, physiology, pathology, radiology, neurology, medicine, and surgery that is part of the graduate veterinarian's training;
• An understanding of the pathogenesis of dental diseases in animals is a requirement for making informed judgments regarding their treatment;
• Veterinarians are uniquely qualified to diagnose and address unexpected health conditions that may arise during dental examinations and procedures, and to prescribe follow-up care; 
• Most veterinary dental procedures require the administration of drugs and anesthetics to restrain the animal or to reduce its pain and suffering;
• Knowledge of the etiology of dental disease is required to communicate proper preventive procedures to the client.

Revised December 2005