Let's face it, my eyes see things your eyes just don't notice with regard to your pet's oral cavity. That's because during my dental training I was challenged by my mentor to look beyond the obvious. I want to share what a veterinary dentist looks...
According to a recent article, approximately 14-27% of dogs had some form of tooth fracture. That's a very significant number that needs to be fleshed out as to how this occurs. Of course, significant trauma can occur when a dog is involved with vehicular or...
We all have a genuine fear of losing teeth. Vanity aside, when we see people with missing teeth, we can visualize facial changes associated with this (bone loss) and we run home to brush our teeth and floss just to make sure it doesn't happen...
I am often asked, "does hard food help to prevent plaque in dogs?" and the answer is actually more complex than you would think. The answer partially depends on your pet's diet plan. Statistically, there is no difference between feeding canned food and non-dental diet-specific...
Hand scaling your pet's teeth, a practice commonly known as "at-home dental care" for pets, can be detrimental to both your pet's oral health and your own well-being. While it may seem like a cost-effective and convenient way to maintain your pet's dental hygiene, there...
Dr. Briggs and I see a lot of cats that have generalized gingivitis, gingivostomatitis, and/or tooth resorption. In each of these cases, the treatment plan is to remove the affected teeth. With the first two disease processes, surgical extraction of all teeth (or sometimes behind...
We live in a society where most of us have some form of health insurance coverage, while fewer have dental and vision coverage. Many employers give you basic health care and then you have to add on the broader coverage. Thankfully, this avoids catastrophic costs...
I played tug of war with my dog for years and years, until I started my dental residency. Then, I learned that tug of war is bad for my dog, specifically their canine teeth. Now, I preach to veterinary practitioners the need to stress avoidance...
Oral tumors compose approximately 5-8% of all tumors in the dog and cat. That's a considerable number and the most difficult aspect of this large percentage is that most people do not spend time looking in their pet's mouth, so these masses grow unnoticed. Understanding Oral...
The world is full of so many myths and misconceptions and Dr. Google has made life even more complex. Give someone a platform with little evidence-based medical training and things can go sideways rather quickly. Unfortunately, many veterinarians are ill trained regarding how to address...