3.8 Veterinary Dental Specialists
A diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) or EVDC is a veterinarian who has been certified as having demonstrated specialist knowledge and expertise in veterinary dentistry. In order to qualify, they must complete all training requirements and successfully pass an examination; only then can they be considered veterinary dentists (specialists in veterinary dentistry) and practice veterinary dentistry at a specialist level.
Specialization in the veterinary medical profession can be species‐ or discipline‐oriented. At this level, the European and American Boards of Veterinary Specialization (EBVS and ABVS) provide a common umbrella to assure a homogenous postgraduate education to veterinarians who want to become specialists. Like the AVDC in North America, the EVDC is a transversely recognized institution.
3.9 Veterinary Dental Education in the Future
To respond properly to the needs of all patients suffering from oral diseases, meet market expectations, and follow ongoing trends in veterinary business, a new veterinary dental education system must be implemented. The key points of the WSAVA chapter dedicated to education are worth citation here (Niemiec et al. 2017):
Figure 3.5 WSAVA Dental guidelines team From left: Paulo Stegall DACVAA (Canada), Jerzy Gawor DAVDC, DEVDC, FAVD (Poland), Brook A. Niemiec DAVDC, DEVDC, FAVD (USA), Kymberley Stewart (Canada) Gottfried Morgenegg (Switzerland), Marge Chandler DACVN, DACVIM, DECVIM‐CA (UK), Rod Jouppi (Canada), Ana Nemec DAVDC, DEVDC (Slovenia), Cedric Tutt, DEVDC (South Africa), David Clarke DAVDC (Australia).
Veterinary dentistry is a largely neglected field in the veterinary medicine curriculum in most of the universities.
Teaching veterinary dentistry at an undergraduate level should include lectures and hands‐on workshops on basic examination techniques, most common oral/dental diseases and treatments.
Teaching hospitals should establish a veterinary dentistry department, striving at providing dentistry services at a specialist level to create the necessary teaching environment.
Postgraduate training in veterinary dentistry should include residency training, ideally in the future combined with PhD training.
Effective teaching of veterinary dentistry in the veterinary school is the key to progression in this field of veterinary medicine.
References
1 AVMA Council on Education (2020) JAVMA 257 (9): 881
2 Bologna Process (2005). A Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area. In: Bergen Conference of European Ministers Responsible for Higher Education. May 19–20, 2005. Bergen, Norway. Available from http://ecahe.eu/w/images/7/76/A_Framework_for_Qualifications_for_the_European_Higher_Education_Area.pdf (accessed July 5, 2020).
3 EVDS and EVDC (2014). Competencies in Dentistry and Oral Surgery for Small Companion Animals. Available from https://www.evds.org/images/pdf/Competencies.pdf (accessed July 5, 2020).
4 Gawor, J. (2011). Dentistry in European Veterinary Faculties. Proceedings of European Congress of Veterinary Dentistry Chalkidiki.
5 Miller, G.E. (1990). The assessment of clinical skills/competence/performance. Acad. Med. 65 (9): 63–67.
6 Niemiec B.A., Gawor J., Nemec A., et al. (2017). Kymberley Stewart World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Dental Guidelines. Available from https://wsava.org/wp‐content/uploads/2020/01/Dental‐Guidleines‐for‐endorsement_0.pdf (accessed July 5, 2020).
7 OIE (2012) OIE recommendations on the competencies of graduating veterinarians (“day 1 graduates”) to assure high‐quality of national veterinary services. Paris: World Organization for Animal Health.
8 Perry, R. (2014). Final year veterinary students' attitudes toward small animal dentistry: a questionnaire‐based survey. J. Small Anim. Pract. 55 (9): 457–464.
9 Sackett, D.L., Richardson, W.S., Rosenberg, W. et al. (2000). Evidence‐Based Medicine: How to Practice and Teach, 2e. Edinburgh: Churchill‐Livingstone.
4 Distribution of Tasks Around the Dental Patient in General Practice : Receptionists, Technicians, and Other Veterinary Team Members
Mary Berg
Beyond the Crown Veterinary Education, Lawrence, KS, USA
4.1 Introduction
Companion animals have become an important part of our lives, and many people consider their pet a part of their family. This bond is important to the veterinarian and their team as it has made clients more interested in dental care for their pets. It is essential that communication remains open between all parties and that the entire veterinary team project the same message to the client. All members of the veterinary team must be excited and motivated. The veterinarian and their team must educate the client about the need for dentistry and demonstrate the importance of good oral hygiene to the overall health of their pet. Clients need to hear the same message seven times to ensure they retain and understand the meaning. In this author's experience, 25% of your clients will accept whatever you say immediately; 60% will take a little time to accept your recommendations; and the remaining 15% will never accept your suggestions. As veterinary professionals, we need to concentrate on the 60% to ensure they understand the need for dental care.
4.2 Receptionists
The receptionist is the first and last person the client sees in the practice (Figure 4.1). They must be friendly and confident, and must provide the client with accurate information. They demonstrate their interest in the client and pet through body language and words. A receptionist who projects a positive attitude regarding dentistry and home care is essential for success. The acceptance of dentistry within a practice can be greatly affected if the receptionist isn't fully on board.
This interaction may begin with a telephone conversation. All practices have phone shoppers who are seeking the best deal on dental care. It is very important that the receptionist be trained on the how to handle such calls (Bellows 1999). When asked how much the practice charges for a dental procedure, the answer must be, “It depends upon the degree of oral disease present.” The receptionist should avoid quoting prices over the phone. It is best to explain that it is difficult to determine the true extent of oral disease until each tooth has been examined under general anesthesia and radiographs have been evaluated, after which a treatment plan can be formulated and accurate fees calculated. A script that can be used for phone shoppers would be something like: “We are unable to give you an accurate estimate for a dental treatment over the phone as the cost depends upon the degree of treatment necessary to give your pet the very best care possible. It is essential that we exam your pet to give you a more accurate idea of the cost.”
It is very important to remember that an oral examination and dental cleaning is rarely a routine procedure. The receptionist should be able to discuss the basic safety of anesthesia and address any concerns the pet owner may have about the procedure. It is advisable for the receptionist