Vickie J. Byard, CVT, VTS (Dentistry)

Seventy to 80 percent of all companion animals over the age of three have some level of periodontal disease. Yet, it is probably the most ignored disease in dogs and cats.

Once the dental prophylaxis is completed, the patient's mouth has been charted, and a full series of intraoral radiographs is ready for evaluation, some patients may have already been under anesthesia for over an hour.

In addition to considering staffing, equipment and scheduling, the practice should look closely at the anesthesia protocols and applications currently employed within the practice.

When practices are providing dentistry without evaluating the health of the tooth below the gum tissue, they are missing a vast amount of disease.

In 2009, we have come a long way in veterinary dentistry. We have come a long way, in veterinary medicine as a whole.

One of the first skills taught in veterinary dentistry is how to properly chart a mouth.