Veterinary Medicine - October 2007 - (Page G7)

stages, treatment aims to control the disease so it doesn’t progress. Most veterinarians should take more responsibility for dentistry. In many cases, the technician anesthetizes the patient and cleans the teeth. The veterinarians are not part of the process because they probably feel that the technician is doing a good job. However, the technician shouldn’t make the diagnosis or recommend treatment. We need to get the veterinarian more involved. Scherk: Exactly. That is why training is so important. The more you know, the more you know you don’t know. Bellows: They don’t have to refer to a specialist. There are people in most communities that have a dental radiography machine. Let them take the radiographs. Referral veterinarians are good about returning the patient to the primary veterinarian—you don’t have to be afraid of losing them any more. Hurley: How do you get the veterinarian more involved? What vehicles do we need? Is it attending more lectures? Bellows: No, lecturing alone won’t do it. Hands-on wet labs are very effective to help teach radiology interpretation and proper extraction techniques. Boone: The great thing about practicing digital radiography is that it doesn’t cost you anything except time. Resources for veterinarians Hurley: What educational opportunities are available for veterinarians who haven’t received adequate dental training? Where should they go (see Educational resources, page 8)? Scherk: Best medicine is for veterinarians to take radiographs and be involved directly in the dentistry (comprehensive ATP). However, we risk alienating the majority of veterinarians and preventing them from increasing their participation in dentistry if we insist that without dentistry, they aren’t doing enough. Instead, we can agree with them that the technician is doing a superb job at scaling the teeth; however, the veterinarian should do the probing while the technician does the charting. That way the veterinarian gets more involved in the diagnostics. If we start with that, over time veterinarians may feel that they can invest in dental radiography. Hall: If you don’t have a dental radiography unit, you can take dental radiographs with a standard radiography machine and dental film. It is more difficult, but it can be done. Before you get into dental radiography, you need training. There is a learning curve, however, it is not as steep as the one for ultrasonography. Bellows: VIN (Veterinary Information Network, www. vin.com) is a wonderful online resource, both for its message boards and search capabilities. You can even view conference proceedings, so you get to see what is current on a specific subject like periodontal disease. VIN also offers online courses in the evening, including beginning through advanced dental modules. My technicians took these modules, and now they have a better understanding. Also, the American Veterinary Dental College’s website lists the nomenclature of teeth. Hall: The American Veterinarian Dental Society is a wonderful organization that anyone can join—including veterinarians, technicians, and clients. Members receive the quarterly Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, which includes research articles, technical data, veterinary dental CE, and basic information. It also lists information on continuing education sources. Veterinarians should always qualify the source and who is doing the instruction—make sure the instructor is board-certified in veterinary dentistry, Bellows: I agree with Dr. Scherk. Veterinarians who don’t take radiographs should refer when a problem can be more adequately managed with the help of radiography. 7 http://www.vin.com http://www.vin.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - October 2007

Veterinary Medicine - October 2007 Contents Leading Off The Veterinary Medicine Interview: Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald Toxicology Brief Idea Exchange Animal Sheltering in the United States: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow The Euthanasia Problem Offer Basic Behavior Counseling for Every Pet at Every Visit Promote and Perform Early Spaying and Neutering Assist Owners in Selecting the Best Pets for their Lifestyles Champion Animal Welfare in Your Community CE Form Product Review Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller

Veterinary Medicine - October 2007

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