WSAVA developing new guidelines for veterinary dentistry
The DGC aims to launch the first Global Dental Guidelines at WSAVA World Congress 2017.
A set of guidelines to enhance standards of veterinary dentistry is being developed by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).
According to the WSAVA, the guidelines are set to bridge a ‘significant gap’ in veterinary education and enhance the level of veterinary care companion animals receive across the world.
A new WSAVA Committee - the Dental Guidelines Committee (DGC) - will carry out the task. The DGC aims to launch the first Global Dental Guidelines at WSAVA World Congress 2017.
“Our goal is to raise awareness of just how common dental disease is in small animals and to highlight the local and systemic consequences if it is left untreated,” said Dr Brook Niemiec who chairs the DGC. “We also hope to improve dental education internationally and to promote the importance of veterinary dentistry.”
He adds: “Our goal is to raise awareness of just how common dental disease is in small animals and to highlight the local and systemic consequences if it is left untreated. We also hope to improve dental education internationally and to promote the importance of veterinary dentistry.”
Dr Niemiec explains that the WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines will set the ‘gold standard’ to which all veterinarians should aspire. However, the DGC will also suggest minimum standards of equipment and care for veterinarians in parts of the world where companion animal practice is still developing.
“As part of the project, we plan to develop a simple, objective way to score oral disease in a repeatable fashion and to create educational resources, tools and continuing education (CE) for WSAVA members,” he said.
“It is our firm intent that the WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines will be the first step in changing the way that dental disease is perceived in the veterinary profession and in improving dental treatment in companion animals worldwide.”
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
