AAHA readies release of dental guidelines

DENVER — Slated for September release, Dental Care Guidelines authored by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) are in the final editing process.

The AAHA Board of Directors blessed the recommendations at the association's March meeting.

The goal of the seven-page document is to provide guidelines for the practice of companion animal dentistry for the veterinary profession, says Derek Woodbury, AAHA public relations.

The guidelines are a framework for dental examinations, cleaning and surgical procedures including anesthesia, facility and equipment recommendations.

"The animal's age and common dental conditions are all balanced on task force members recommendations," explains Dr. John Albers, AAHA executive director.

The drafted guidelines are a culmination of a month's worth of work and will emphasize the need for home care to maintain pets' health, explains task force member Dr. Jan Bellows, a veterinary dentist at All Pets Dental Clinic and Hometown Animal Hospital in Weston, Fla.

"All members of the veterinary practice team must strive to improve the quality of care for their dental patients," says Dr. Daniel Aja, AAHA president. "These guidelines are a framework for veterinary teams to reference as they develop individualized dental plans for their patients."

AAHA Dental Care guideline Task Force members include:

Drs. Steve Holmstrom, chair, Ben Colmery, Jan Bellows, Lana Conway and Kate Knutson and veterinary technician Jeanne Vitoux.

The comprehensive guidelines are slated for publication in the September/October issue of AAHA's Trends magazine.