Pulp fiction: myths and misconceptions in veterinary dentistry

Authors: Hawke C
Publication: Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Annual Conferences, Volume 2014 AVA Annual Conference, Perth, Issue Dental, May 2014
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

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Abstract: As vets and nurses, we know that dental disease is THE most common health issue we see in our small animal patients. However, despite our best efforts to help our clients understand their pets’ need for dental treatment, the majority of our patients simply do not get the dental care they require to have a healthy, pain-free mouth. Poor dental compliance rates mean that many thousands of animals are suffering oral infection and pain in silence. This is not only a huge welfare issue for our patients, but also demoralising for vets and nurses as we try in vain, again and again, to get our message across that something needs to be done! It is a daily frustration that caring pet owners, who would normally do what it takes to keep their animals healthy, cannot see the need for dental treatment even in the face of obvious disease. By understanding the differences in the way vets and clients perceive dental disease, we can make some easy changes to the way we approach our discussions about dental treatment, and vastly improve the health and welfare of our patients.

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