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Spreading the word about the importance of veterinary dentistry
Lectures and new resources from the WSAVA Global Dental Committee (GDC)
GDC Committee member Dr Chandika Wickramasinghe was recently invited to discuss the WSAVA’s Global Dental Guidelines in a series of zoom lectures to mark World Veterinary Day, organized by the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association (SLVA).
The WSAVA Guidelines include information and images of oral anatomy and common pathology, as well as best practice recommendations for oral examinations and an easily implementable dental health scoring system. A key theme is the WSAVA’s rejection of anesthesia-free dentistry (AFD), which it ribes as ineffective and a cause of unnecessary stress and suffering to patients.
Dr Wickramasinghe says: “Despite research showing that at least 80% of dogs and 70% of cats are likely to develop periodontal disease by the age of three, dental care is still often neglected and this neglect causes much unnecessary pain and suffering.
“In Sri Lanka, it’s good to see that veterinarians are starting to understand the importance of veterinary dentistry, and some are using the WSAVA’s Global Dental Guidelines to help them treat their patients. I was delighted to have this opportunity to introduce the Guidelines to even more veterinarians from Sri Lanka and to explain how they can be used in practice.”
The Global Dental Committee has recently created a ‘Guide to toothbrushing’ for pet owners. You can download this free resource here.
The Global Dental Committee is planning to host a dry lab during WSAVA Congress in Lima, followed by a regional dental dry lab tour of Latin America. Stay tuned – more details coming soon!