10 Apr Why Should I Take Veterinary Dentistry Courses as a Veterinarian?
I have been a veterinarian for almost 33 years. I became board-certified in veterinary dentistry by the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) 10 years ago. Truth be told, I hated dentistry for the first 13 years of my career. There were many reasons for this, but it started with a lack of training while I was in veterinary college. I graduated from vet school with minimal dental experience. This is sadly still quite common for many new graduates, but the problem is getting better as more veterinary colleges add members of the AVDC to their faculties and build dentistry into their curriculums.
I also spent the first 13 years of my career not seeking out dental training. Opportunities were sparse since there were minimal veterinary dental training centers around the country and the AVDC was just starting to build its membership up. I was voraciously going after continuing education opportunities in other disciplines of the profession but continued to neglect seeking out courses in dentistry.
After moving my family to Colorado in 2004 a colleague encouraged me to take a 2-day veterinary dental lab course in Colorado Springs. I finally signed up for the class in November, 2005 and have not looked back. Veterinary dentistry became a passion for me in my general practice career, so much so that in 2011 I started a dental residency program with the AVDC.
I’m now board-certified in veterinary dentistry. Not only did I buy the clinic that provided the course in 2005, but I’m teaching the classes that have built off the foundation of those early courses. I have often said that if you told me 20 years ago that I would one day be a boarded member of the AVDC and teaching veterinary dental courses, I would have told you that you were board-certified in being crazy.
As a veterinarian, you’re already juggling a wide range of skills—from diagnostics to surgery to client communication. Maybe you graduated from a vet school with a solid dental curriculum. Perhaps you have even taken additional veterinary dentistry courses for veterinarians since graduation. So, when the topic of veterinary dentistry comes up, it’s natural to ask: “Do I really need more training in that area?”
Short answer? Yes. And here’s why.
1. Dental Disease is Incredibly Common
Up to 80% of dogs and cats have dental disease by the age of two. That makes dental issues one of the most common health problems you’ll encounter in general practice. Being well-versed in veterinary dentistry means you’re better equipped to recognize, diagnose, and treat conditions that significantly affect your patients’ quality of life.
2. It’s More Than Just “Cleanings”
Veterinary dentistry isn’t just about scaling and polishing teeth. It involves radiographic interpretation, oral surgery, pain management, and identifying complex systemic links—like how periodontal disease can affect the heart, liver, and kidneys. Formal courses go far beyond what’s typically covered in vet school and give you the confidence to provide more comprehensive care. I like to tell my students that our 2-day courses are often the 2 days of veterinary school that you possibly never had.
I would estimate that 70% of my cases involve surgical tooth extractions. Our courses spend a significant amount of time teaching new and improved techniques for quickly and efficiently performing extractions. Still, there is so much more when it comes to veterinary dentistry. How should you diagnose and treat orthodontic problems, oral tumors, fractured teeth, … The list goes on and can be daunting to a general practice veterinarian. Our courses in Colorado Springs address all of these areas of veterinary dentistry.
3. It Elevates Patient Outcomes
Better dental care = happier, healthier animals. With continued dental training, you can catch issues earlier, minimize pain and infection, and avoid unnecessary extractions. Clients notice the difference too—pets with healthy mouths eat better, play more, and just feel better overall. Treating dental disease and helping pet owners prevent it will also decrease the negative systemic impacts that dental disease, predominantly periodontal disease, has on other organ systems, primarily the heart, liver and kidneys.
4. It Can Be a Major Practice Builder
Dentistry is one of the most underutilized revenue streams in veterinary practice. Most clinics are sitting on a gold mine of untreated dental disease simply because the staff lacks confidence or training. Adding dentistry services can increase your case variety, client satisfaction, and practice profitability. Veterinary clinics that emphasize dental care and seek out training opportunities for their team members are the most successful in the profession.
5. You Stay Current with Best Practices
Veterinary dentistry is an evolving field. New tools, techniques, and technologies are emerging all the time. Taking courses helps you stay up to date on the latest developments—from dental radiography to periodontal treatments and even orthodontics. Dental courses also help you determine which cases should be referred to a board-certified veterinary dentist in your area.
6. It Makes You a More Well-Rounded Vet
Whether you’re in general practice or planning to specialize, having strong dentistry skills sets you apart. It deepens your diagnostic and procedural skills and improves your ability to offer full-spectrum care—because oral health is whole-body health. I have always stressed to my students that what goes on in the oral cavity does not stay in the oral cavity.
Veterinary Dentistry Courses for Veterinarians at vetdentalclasses.com
If you’ve ever felt unsure during a dental procedure, hesitated when interpreting an oral radiograph, or wished you could offer more to your patients—you should strongly consider taking additional continuing education courses in veterinary dentistry for veterinarians. They’re not just a smart investment in your skills—they’re a direct investment in your patients’ well-being and your clinic’s success.
So go ahead. Dive into the world of veterinary dentistry. Don’t hate it like I did at the beginning of my career. Let it become one of your passions as a veterinarian. Your patients, your clients, and your future self will thank you.