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There is no doubt that in veterinary practices across Australia, more dental procedures are being performed than ever before. I constantly hear the comment, “We’re so busy. We do so many dentals every day!” Well, if you think you’re busy with dental procedures now, it’s nowhere near where you could be. I am seeing veterinary practices double their potential by investing in a second dental table, unit, and instruments to keep up with demand.
Studies indicate that 90% of your patient base today has some form of dental disease, but are you treating that many patients?
This series of articles will discuss ways to improve the compliance of your clients, including veterinary recommendations for assessing and treating patients (COHAT) most at risk of dental conditions, thereby allowing for early intervention.
The most common type of consultation in which oral exams and treatment recommendations occur is the annual Vaccination Consultation, and there are a number of ways you can maximise your time for these all-important conversations with your clients. Asking the ‘right’ questions during these conversations is essential in helping you to gather crucial information, including your patient’s dental history.
The first step in the Oral Examination is to gather your patient’s history, and your questions should focus on two specific areas:
The basis of veterinary dentistry is first to alleviate pain, but also to maintain or restore function. Not only does the oral cavity begin the alimentary tract, but its function also impacts many other areas:
Importantly, it’s often changes in these areas that indicate a pet is experiencing oral pain.
Here are some helpful tips for taking a dental-focused history to identify whether further investigation is needed.
It is rare for an animal to stop eating due to oral pain. What is far more common is for a patient to change their eating habits due to oral pain. Specifically, your client may notice changes in the way they eat and/or changes in their food preferences. For this reason, it is helpful to target your questions to discover any changes over the last 6 months (i.e. since their previous visit) by asking what is normal now.
If you ask, “What’s your pet’s normal diet?” your client may give you the response they think you’re looking for – “The best diet only”! Instead, ask more open questions, which allow your client to share more details. For example:
The information you’re looking for includes the type of food, frequency of feeding, and who is responsible for feeding (this is a close relationship that comes in useful later when you recommend any changes or toothbrushing).
The information you’re looking for includes the type of treats and frequency (you may be able to make better recommendations later). Does the pet owner notice if the pet ‘chews’ the food or swallows it whole? Are there crumbs left behind or any food that drops from the mouth? Have they noticed if their pet drools, or have they noticed blood on their treats?
If clients believe their pet does not ‘like’ their food anymore, they will buy 27 different brands and types of food until they find the one their pet now likes. A change in food preference, especially from dry to wet, and especially in cats, can be a sign of oral pain. Even changes in their temperament, play behaviours, grooming, and even sleep habits can be associated with oral pain.
A helpful resource is the WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines, which provide a review of the observable signs of oral pain to further help direct your questions.
Your patient cannot provide you with the feedback that we, as humans, can offer to our dentists. Instead, we need to investigate and ask questions to find the clues that may lead us to the conclusion that further investigation is warranted.
At iM3, we’re renowned for our long-lasting dental units, and the new Evolution range builds on this enduring ethos by creating dental units designed for the rigours of working in the extreme environments of veterinary clinics worldwide.
All Evolution Range dental units are hand-built using materials that can withstand the everyday wear and tear of working in a busy clinic. From the full-aluminium frame and panels to the medical-grade powder coating and stainless steel screws, to the Corian dental top, iM3 sets standards that others could only wish for. The Evolution Range sets the benchmark for usability and durability in every vet dental suite.
The Evolution Range is designed to grow with you as your dental services develop, and iM3 will be here to support you along the way.
For over 15 years Maggie has worked in small animal general practice and we’re sure she’s a familiar face to many in the industry. Her passion for dentistry led to her obtaining the Diploma of Veterinary Nursing (Dental) and the Veterinary Technician Specialty VTS (Dentistry). Maggie has experience in General Practice Dentistry as well as in Specialty practice having conducted nurse dental clinics and assisting in both general and advanced specialty procedures. As an experienced and qualified trainer, Maggie has provided training in dentistry to veterinary teams both domestically and internationally and brings her contagious passion for dentistry to her role at iM3 in providing training and support to our clients.
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