Pet Dental FAQs

Over the past several decades, veterinary medicine has made incredible progress in the quality of research and care we can provide to our patients. One of these improvements has been the development of veterinary specialties that allow for focused training and care of specific groups of patients and health disorders, following the trend of specialization that is seen in human medicine (such as cardiologists, dermatologists, and surgeons). The American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) is one of 22 specialty organizations recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) American Board of Veterinary Specialties.

A Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College (DAVDC), also known as a Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™ or a Board Certified Veterinary Dental Specialist™, is a veterinarian who has been certified by AVDC as having demonstrated specialist knowledge and expertise in veterinary dentistry and oral surgery.

This specialist certification requires years (typically 3 to 6) of additional training after completing a standard doctorate in veterinary medicine. Residency training is solely focused on veterinary dentistry and oral surgery and is under the direct guidance of one or more DAVDCs. Near the completion of a residency, candidates must submit credentials of expertise to a review board in the American Veterinary Dental College. Once these credentials are accepted, candidates must publish research and pass an extensive written and practical examination before being acknowledged by the College as a specialist. You can recognize individuals who have met these rigorous requirements as those legally allowed to have "DAVDC" listed in their titles, such as "Shanna Landy, DVM, DAVDC."

By bringing your pet to a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College, you are taking a big step to ensure your pet receives the best possible dental and oral care! Board certified veterinary dentists are educated and equipped to diagnose and treat an enormous variety of dental, oral, and maxillofacial diseases and disorders.

These include but not limited to:

• Diagnostics
  • Conscious orofacial exam
  • Intraoral radiographs ("dental x-rays")
  • Periodontal probing and charting
  • Advanced 3D imaging such as CT scans of the head and neck
  • Incisional and excisional biopsies
  • Aerobic, anaerobic, and fungal culture and sensitivity testing
  • Screening for masticatory myositis (an inflammatory disease of the chewing muscles)
• Advanced Dental Extractions
  • Including difficult cases such as abnormally-shaped teeth or roots, impacted teeth, or tooth roots that were displaced during a previous surgery
  • Also includes management of extraction-related complications, such as oronasal fistulas or patients at a high risk of jaw fracture
• Periodontics
  • Periodontal treatment (hand instrumentation and ultrasonic scaling)
  • Root planing (open and closed) to treat deep gum pockets
  • Guided tissue regeneration of deep pockets
  • Gum reduction surgery in patients with gum overgrowth
  • Repair and reshaping of gum defects
• Endodontics
  • Root canal treatment (standard and surgical / apicoectomy)
  • Vital pulp therapy / apexification
  • Occlusal table adjustments in exotic patients such as rabbits and guinea pigs
• Restorations
  • Cavities
  • Developmental disorders of the enamel and/or mineralization of teeth
• Prosthodontics
  • Titanium and precious metal crowns
• Orthodontics
  • Counseling re: breeding and showing patients with malocclusion
  • Conservative management (for example, ball therapy)
  • Crown height reduction to alleviate trauma
  • Passive force orthodontic appliances (crown extensions, inclined planes)
  • Active force orthodontic appliances (“dog braces”)
• Maxillofacial Trauma
  • Soft tissue repair
  • Conservative management (for example, external coaptation with a muzzle)
  • Maxillomandibular fixation
  • Interdental wiring + intraoral acrylic splints
  • Open reduction and internal fixation
  • Safe removal of critically damaged structures
  • Management of teeth in a fracture line
• Oral Surgery
  • Removal of tumors and tumor-affected tissue
  • Removal of cancerous lymph nodes in the head and neck
  • Removal of nonvital bone
  • Palate surgery (including cleft nose, cleft lip, cleft palate, and acquired defects)
  • Surgery of the TMJ
  • Salivary gland surgery
• Oral Medicine
  • Immune-mediated disorders (for example, stomatitis)
  • Infectious and inflammatory diseases affecting the mouth
  • Chronic pain management
• Supportive Care
  • Long-acting nerve blocks
  • Esophageal feeding tubes
  • Drain placement

There are many organizations of individuals with a passion for pet dental care, and the alphabet soup can be overwhelming! The following is a non-exhaustive list of other groups, titles, and acronyms you may encounter as you are reading up on veterinary dentistry:

• The European Veterinary Dental College (EVDC) is a specialist college comparable to the AVDC based in Europe, whose training and certification requirements are under the jurisdiction of the European Board of Veterinary Specialists.
• The Academy of Veterinary Dentistry (AVD) is an international organization of veterinarians who self-identify a special interest in the dental care of animals. The formation of this special interest group predates the founding of the American Veterinary Dental College, and many pioneers of the profession of veterinary dentistry can trace their roots to this organization. In North America, members of the AVD are usually also Diplomates of the American Veterinary Dental College.
• The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is a cohort of veterinary specialists of the American and European Veterinary dental colleges, dental technicians, and dental scientists who organized to develop a system of evaluating the accuracy of marketing claims regarding prescription and over-the-counter products designed to improve the oral health of veterinary patients through e.g. reduction in the buildup of dental plaque.
• Others: There is no shortage of verbiage veterinarians who are not board-certified use when they are advertising their dental services. Examples of this include "veterinary dental practitioners," "pet dentists," "animal dental doctors," and veterinarians who provide "advanced care" or "have a special interest" in dentistry and oral surgery. These are general practice veterinarians who have completed their veterinary medical doctorate but have not completed the extensive specialist training, accreditation, and examination process that Diplomates of the American Veterinary Dental College have completed. Discretion is advised when seeking care from these providers, as there is no official AVDC oversight or endorsement for the training and clinical competency of these individuals.