Being A Veterinary Dentist

Dogs and Cats need Dentals

I was given a basic dental course at Uni by Vet dental specialist Professor Frank J.M. Verstraete, Once he left the faculty of Vet science, the dental facility closed down. A complete veterinary dental service for pets was then started by Animal dentist Dr Johan Joubert working with Dr Philip Sacks in a Veterinary dental clinic in Johannesburg South Africa. It was a massive financial outlay - getting the veterinary dental equipment set up. The animal dental service was well accepted and we were fairly full most dental referral "days" doing specialised veterinary dentistry.

A Vet Dentist specialist is skilled in pet dental procedures, and is able to work efficiently and gently in your pets oral cavity. To become a proficient animal dentist takes a lot of time and effort way above the basic vet dental training offered in vet school. A lot of mentoring by experienced and specialist veterinary dentists and post graduate veterinary dental training is also needed to become a competent small animal dentist treating dog dentistry and cat dental issues.

Our pets, dogs and cats, are carnivores and have very large teeth with "massive" roots relative to their size. So taking out a tooth is usually not "pulling teeth" but a surgical dental extraction. Many teeth have multiple roots, and or very long roots that serve to stabilize the teeth in the jaw bones.

1. Animal dental patients go home on the same day
2. All vet dentals get i/v fluids and antibiotics
3. The veterinary scaling and polishing is done under General anaesthesia
4. A vet dental nurse helps with each dog dental
5. All patients are kept warm during the dental procedure