should be individualized to the patient, and are another way of showing the client the importance of dental health. They should include a simplified dental chart for making notations (e.g., on depth, furcation exposure, or missing/extracted teeth), the prescribed treatment plan, a discharge form, and a copy of the dental X‐rays. Handouts on common dental problems, home care options, and treatments can be created by the veterinary technician/nurse. These should be sent home with the client after discussing the procedure or problem with them in the exam room.
Figure 4.12 Color coding of patients for follow‐up visits.
The veterinary technician/nurse, along with the rest of the veterinary team, should see themselves as public educators. This not only helps more pets receive better dental care but can show that a practice has embraced dentistry and its importance to patient well‐being. There are now many options for getting the word out about the importance of oral health. Social media posts can contain trivia questions, important information, and even interesting cases (with client permission). Consider your audience when posting cases, however, and leave out the bloody gore, even though this can be a useful tool for raising owner awareness of dental conditions.
Be creative. There are many opportunities to educate the public about the importance of oral health for pets. Here are a few ideas:
Hold an open house and tours of the dental suite for clients, visitors, and youth groups
Provide informational brochures in waiting rooms (Figure 4.11)
Offer a video on your website explaining the client/patient experience on the day of a dental procedure at your practice
Create a smile book with before and after photos and a pictorial step‐by‐step of a dental cleaning procedure (Figure 4.12)
Write an article for a local newspaper
Visit an elementary school with a dog that loves to have its teeth brushed
Offer a program at a youth group meeting such as 4‐H or Scouts
Provide a booth at a mutt strut or other pet‐related event
Figure 4.13 Informational brochures in a waiting room.
Figure 4.14 Before and after smile book examples.
4.6 Veterinarians
The veterinarian is the team leader. It is very important that they have a strong belief in the importance of dentistry. They should set proficiency goals, schedule dental training meetings, work with their team to develop a highly trained and efficient working group, and understand the importance of providing the best‐quality care possible. Veterinarians are the only team members who can diagnose disease. They should evaluate the data provided by the veterinary technician/nurse, follow up in areas of concern, and combine the information they obtain with the dental X‐rays to determine a diagnosis and treatment plan. The veterinarian should perform all dental treatments and surgical procedures, including dental extractions. They should be comfortable with the procedures they perform and know the limitations of their training: if a treatment is outside its scope, they should readily refer the patient to a veterinary dental specialist.
4.7 Pet Owners
The pet owner or client plays a large role in the veterinary practice. As a customer, they make the decisions on who will care for their beloved pet. They should feel comfortable and work closely with the veterinary team to determine the best options for their oral health. They are the home care provider for oral care and must have buy‐in to the best home care options available. Not all options work for everyone, so the team must work to determine the best one for them.
4.8 Conclusion
The success of the dental aspect of a veterinary practice is dependent upon all members of the team working together toward one common goal. Each role is vital. With a well‐educated and well‐trained team, there is no limit to the success a practice can achieve. Clients may be influenced by many factors, but often they will stay with a practice where they receive stellar service and care.
References
1 Bellows, J. (1999). The Practice of Veterinary Dentistry: A Team Effort. Ames, IA: Iowa State Press.
2 Bellows, J. (2004). Periodontal equipment, materials, and techniques. In: Small Animal Dental Equipment, Materials, and Techniques, a Primer (ed. J. Bellows), 115–173. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley‐Blackwell.
3 Holmstrom, S.E., Frost, P., and Eisner, E.R. (1998). Dental prophylaxis. In: Veterinary Dental Techniques, 2e (eds. S.E. Holmstrom, P. Frost and E.R. Eisner), 133–166. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders.
4 Holmstrom SE. (2013) Veterinary Dentistry A Team approach. 2nd Ed. Elsevier St Louis
5 Lobprise, H.B. and Wiggs, R.B. (2000). The Veterinarian's Companion for Common Dental Procedures. Lakewood, CO: AAHA Press.
6 Niemiec, B.A. (2010). A Color Handbook Small Animal Dental, Oral & Maxillofacial Disease. London: Manson.
7 Perrone, J. (2012). Small Animal Dental Procedures for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley‐Blackwell.
8 Westfelt, E., Rylander, H., Dahlen, G. et al. (1998). The effect of supragingival plaque control on the progression of advanced periodontal disease. J. Clin. Periodontol. 25 (7): 536–541.
5 Prophylactic Program for Oral Health
Brook Niemiec
Veterinary Dental Specialties and Oral Surgery, San Diego, CA, USA
5.1 Introduction
Periodontal disease is the most common disease process in small‐animal patients. Proper therapy for periodontal disease consists of four components, based on the level of disease (Niemiec 2008):
Professional dental cleaning
Periodontal surgery
Extractions
Home care
These various procedures are covered in detail in other chapters; this chapter will focus on the client's role in controlling periodontal (gum) disease.
The prophylactic oral health program includes two major parts: regular dental examinations and established regular oral home care.
5.2 Regular Dental Examinations (and cleanings)
The protocol of regular dental examinations should take approximately 10 minutes and consists of three parts: 3 minutes of history taking and the client completing a questionnaire, 3 minutes of dental/periodontal examination of the conscious patient, and 3 minutes of presentation of diagnosis to the client, instruction on home oral hygiene methods, and recommendation of professional treatment. Parameters are recorded