What is Veterinary Dentistry?

Veterinarians are dentists as well as physicians for animals. However, veterinary dentistry as a specialty is new. The American Veterinary Dental Society was formed in 1976 by veterinarians dedicated to educating themselves and their colleagues about this important field. And in 1988 the American Veterinary Dental College was recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

There are six general disciplines within veterinary dentistry:

Periodontics Cleaning and scaling.	Exodontics Tooth extractions.	Endodontics Root canals.
Prosthodontics/Restorative Crowns and fillings.	Orthodontics Providing a comfortable bite for humane, not cosmetic, reasons.	Oral Surgery Tumor removal, fracture repair.

View some of the common conditions treated at Veterinary Dental Services:

Read more about severe periodontal disease.

Read more about periodontal pockets and periodontal disease.

Complicated extractions.

Read more about fractured teeth.

Read more about discolored teeth.

Read more about persistent primary (retained deciduous) teeth.

Read more about malocclusion.

Read more about Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions (FORLs).

Carious lesions (cavities).

Oral foreign bodies.

Oral neoplasia (malignant as well as benign).

Oral trauma, such as mandibular fractures.

Oro-nasal or oro-antral fistulae repair.

Lip fold dermatitis.

Enamel hypoplasia.

Read more about Feline Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Stomatitis (FLPS).

Plaque intolerance and immune system disease affecting the oral cavity.

Read more about about these common conditions at Dr. Melinda Lommer's Web site.