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Chapter 15 Dental Skills for the Veterinary Assistant 295

Daily Dental Care Oral Health Council (VOHC) has a seal that is placed on
products that have been rigorously tested and have been
As with many diseases in pets, prevention is the key to proven to prevent plaque or calculus accumulations.
good oral health, and demonstrating daily tooth brush- Products that have the VOHC seal of approval can be
ing for the client is the first step in preventative care. found at www.VOHC.org.
Tooth brushing is the gold standard of preventive dental
care. It is important to not just tell a client to brush their Dental Patient Discharge
pet’s teeth, but to also demonstrate tooth brushing Instructions
either on their pet, clinic pet, or a model. Demonstrate
on one side of the mouth showing the client how to Clients need detailed discharge instructions and the use
brush the buccal and labial surfaces of the teeth then of a dental report card is a great way to help the client
observe the client brushing the other side. This allows understand the treatment that was given to their animal.
you an opportunity to make suggestions or give them Include before and after photos and a simplified dental
advice and tips. chart on which problem areas can be marked or high-
Training a pet to accept tooth brushing takes time
and patience; it must be done gradually and with plenty lighted. A section for diagnosis, treatment, home care,
prescriptions, and follow‐up visits should be included on
of praise. It is best to start with a finger dabbed with pet this report card. Keep it simple and use bright, cheerful
toothpaste on it. Hold the pet’s mouth closed and gently colors with clipart on the take home sheet.
rub the finger over the incisors, canines, and along the
molars. As the pet begins to accept the rubbing of the
teeth over the course of a few weeks the owner can intro-
duce the toothbrush. Daily brushing is best, especially Learning Exercise
during the training period. Be sure to tell the client that
it is not necessary to brush the lingual or palatal surfaces Practice client education with a classmate. Role
of the teeth. play with one being the client and the other
Tooth brushing is the best option for providing quality being the assistant.
oral care, but some people are not willing or able to
brush their pet’s teeth and some pets are not willing to
allow their teeth to be brushed. There are options avail-
able that can help in the prevention of plaque buildup
and the prevention of oral disease. Dental diets are one
of the most effective methods of plaque reduction. Good Chapter Reflection
quality chews are also an option. Care should be used What are you most looking forward to when
when recommending alternative methods of plaque pre- working with a veterinary team on dental
vention. There are many items that are advertised to pre- procedures?
vent plaque or remove tartar; unfortunately, many of
these products can actually cause damage to the teeth.
Real bones, hard rawhides, cow hooves, bully sticks, and
so on, should not be used as they can cause dental Suggested Reading
fractures. A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t easily
bend the item in your hands, it is too hard for your pet’s Kesel ML. 2000. Veterinary Dentistry for the Small Animal Technician. Ames,
teeth. IA: Iowa State University Press.
The pet’s jaw is not able to move from side to side like The Why, When, and How of Small Animal Dental Radiology. http://www.
ours so if it bites down on something that is too hard the dentalvet.com/vets/basicdentistry/whywhenhow_radiology.htm
only option is for the tooth to fracture. The Veterinary (accessed July 8, 2019)