How to Talk With Clients About the Importance of Veterinary Dentistry

Vickie Byard, CVT, VTS (Dentistry), veterinary technician dentistry specialist at PetED Veterinary Education and Training Resources recommends talking with clients about a complete oral health assessment and not just a surface cleaning.

“I think the first thing that I try and focus on is the longevity of the pet, the amount of time that they're actually going to have this beloved pet in their home. And the fact that sometimes they're uncomfortable if they have dental issue. And I also try and focus away from the cleaning and more about the assessment. I think if all we focus on is the fact that these teeth need to be cleaned, it's almost like grooming. But if we talk about the fact that these animals need to be anesthetized so that we can get a complete assessment of their oral tissues in their mouth, and look for tumors, and just things that we can't see in an exam room. I think it kind of makes it a little bit more important for us to be able to do this on a routine basis.”