About AVDC®
Mission and Objectives
The primary objectives of AVDC® are to determine the standards required for recognition of board certified veterinary dentists and to conduct the credentials review and examination procedures necessary to identify veterinarians who have reached the specialist veterinary dentist standard and earned the status of Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™ and Board Certified Equine Veterinary Dentist™.
In addition to expert care of individual patients provided by Diplomates, the AVDC® plays a major role in prevention of oral disease by sponsoring the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) which awards the VOHC Seal of Acceptance to oral home care products that meet pre-set standards of effectiveness in dental plaque and calculus control.
Membership Types
AVDC® Position Statements
Policy on responsible breeding practices to ensure quality of life and promote overall health and well being.
The AVDC® recognizes that many breeds in each species (e.g., canine, feline, and lagomorph) have particular genetic tendencies that predispose them to potential maxillofacial or respiratory irregularities. While this is not a total representation of each breed, one must consider all aspects of either genetic or acquired pathology when choosing a pet. It is recommended that any future pet owner consider discussing potential breed-related problems with their family veterinarian or specialist. While these recommendations may be beneficial in the overall understanding of a breed with either a genetic or acquired tendency, the AVDC® as an organization does not have a general policy regarding this topic.
The AVDC® has relied on individual Diplomates to provide valuable evidence based medical recommendations for current and future pet owners to consider. The AVDC® does encourage responsible breeding practices that result in anatomy and conformation that limits impediments to the animal’s quality of life and promotes overall health and well being.
Adopted by the Board of Directors, January 2019
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The Use of Antibiotics in Veterinary Dentistry
The AVDC® endorses the use of systemic antibiotics in veterinary dentistry for treatment of some infectious conditions of the oral cavity. Although culture and susceptibility testing is rarely performed on individual patients that have an infection extending from/to the oral cavity, the selection of an appropriate antibiotic should be based on published data regarding susceptibility testing of the spectra of known oral pathogens.
Patients that are scheduled for an oral procedure may benefit from pre-treatment with an appropriate antibiotic to improve the health of infected oral tissues, however a full course treatment is always recommended.
Bacteremia is a recognized sequela to dental scaling and other oral procedures.
Healthy animals are able to overcome this bacteremia without the use of systemic antibiotics. However, use of a systemically administered antibiotic is recommended to reduce bacteremia for animals that are immune compromised, have underlying systemic disease (such as certain clinically-evident cardiac disease (sub-aortic stenosis), or severe hepatic or renal disease) and/or when severe oral infection is present. Antibiotics should never be considered a monotherapy for treatment of oral infections, and should not be used as preventive management of oral conditions.
Adopted by the Board of Directors, April 2005, revised April 2019
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Veterinary Dental Healthcare Providers
Veterinary Dental Healthcare Providers
The American Veterinary Dental College® (AVDC®) has developed this position statement as a means to safeguard the veterinary dental patient and to ensure the qualifications of persons performing veterinary dental procedures.
Primary responsibility for veterinary dental care
The AVDC® defines veterinary dentistry as the art and practice of oral health care in animals other than humans. It is a discipline of veterinary medicine and surgery. The diagnosis, treatment, and management of veterinary oral health care is to be provided and supervised by licensed veterinarians or by veterinarians working within a university or industry.
Who may provide veterinarian-supervised dental care
The AVDC® accepts that the following health care workers may assist the supervising veterinarian in dental procedures or perform professional dental cleanings (cleaning the surfaces of the teeth with an ultrasonic scaler and/or hand tools and polishing the teeth with pumice or flouride paste while the patient is under anesthesia) while under direct supervision by a veterinarian if permitted by local law: licensed, certified or registered veterinary technician or a veterinary assistant with advanced dental training, a human dentist, or registered dental hygienist.
Operative dentistry and oral surgery
The AVDC® considers operative dentistry to be any dental procedure which invades the hard or soft oral tissue including, but not limited to, a procedure that alters the structure of one or more teeth or repairs damaged and diseased teeth. Only a veterinarian should perform operative dentistry and oral surgery.
Extraction of Teeth
The AVDC® considers the extraction of teeth to be included in the practice of veterinary dentistry. Decision making is the responsibility of the supervising veterinarian, with the consent of the pet owner, when electing to extract teeth. Only veterinarians shall determine which teeth are to be extracted and perform extraction procedures.
Dental Tasks Performed by Veterinary Technicians
The AVDC® considers it appropriate for a veterinarian to delegate maintenance dental care and certain dental tasks to a veterinary technician. Tasks appropriately performed by a technician include professional dental cleanings and certain procedures that do not result in altering the shape, structure, or positional location of teeth in the dental arch. The veterinarian may direct an appropriately trained veterinary technician to perform these tasks providing that the veterinarian is physically present and supervising the treatment.
Veterinary Technician Dental Training
The AVDC® supports the advanced training of veterinary technicians to perform additional ancillary dental services: taking impressions, making models, charting veterinary dental pathology, taking, and developing dental radiographs, performing non-surgical subgingival root scaling and periodontal debridement, provided that they do not alter the structure of the tooth.
Further the AVDC® does not support Diplomates training non-licensed veterinarians, veterinary assistants, or veterinary technicians to perform oral surgery, including surgical extraction techniques.
Tasks that may be performed by veterinary assistants (not registered, certified, or licensed)
The AVDC® supports the appropriate training of veterinary assistants to perform the following dental services: supragingival scaling and polishing, taking and developing dental radiographs, directly assisting the veterinarian in oral surgical and dental procedures, and making impressions and models.
Tasks that may be performed by human dentists, registered dental hygienists and other dental health care providers
The AVDC® recognizes that human dentists, registered dental hygienists and other dental health care providers in good standing may perform those procedures for which they have been qualified under the direct supervision of the veterinarian. The supervising veterinarian will be responsible for the welfare of the veterinary patient and any treatment performed on the patient.
The AVDC® understands that individual states have regulations that govern the practice of veterinary medicine. This position statement is intended to be a model for veterinary dental practice and does not replace existing law.
Adopted by the Board of Directors April 1998, revised October 1999, revised September 2006, revised 2022
AVMA Summary Report by State – Authority of veterinary technicians and other non-veterinarians to perform dental procedures
Link to AVMA Summary Report by State – Scope of Practice: Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine and other practice act exemptions
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Companion Animal Dental Scaling Without Anesthesia
In the United States and Canada, only licensed veterinarians can practice veterinary medicine. Veterinary medicine includes veterinary surgery, medicine and dentistry. Anyone providing dental services other than a licensed veterinarian, or a supervised and trained veterinary technician, is practicing veterinary medicine without a license and shall be subject to criminal charges.
This position statement addresses dental scaling procedures performed on pets without anesthesia, often by individuals untrained in veterinary dental techniques. Although the term Anesthesia-Free Dentistry has been used in this context, AVDC® prefers to use the more accurate term Non-Professional Dental Scaling (NPDS) to describe this combination.
Owners of pets naturally are concerned when anesthesia is required for their pet. However, performing NPDS on an unanesthetized pet is inappropriate for the following reasons:
1. Dental tartar is firmly adhered to the surface of the teeth. Scaling to remove tartar is accomplished using ultrasonic and sonic power scalers, plus hand instruments that must have a sharp working edge to be used effectively. Even slight head movement by the patient could result in injury to the oral tissues of the patient, and the operator may be bitten when the patient reacts.
2. Professional dental scaling includes scaling the surfaces of the teeth both above and below the gingival margin (gum line), followed by dental polishing. The most critical part of a dental scaling procedure is scaling the tooth surfaces that are within the gingival pocket (the subgingival space between the gum and the root), where periodontal disease is active. Because the patient cooperates, dental scaling of human teeth performed by a professional trained in the procedures can be completed successfully without anesthesia. However, access to the subgingival area of every tooth is impossible in an unanesthetized canine or feline patient. Removal of dental tartar on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet’s health, and provides a false sense of accomplishment. The effect is purely cosmetic.
3. Inhalation anesthesia using a cuffed endotracheal tube provides three important advantages… the cooperation of the patient with a procedure it does not understand, elimination of pain resulting from examination and treatment of affected dental tissues during the procedure, and protection of the airway and lungs from accidental aspiration.
4. A complete oral examination, which is an important part of a professional dental scaling procedure, is not possible in an unanesthetized patient. The surfaces of the teeth facing the tongue cannot be examined, and areas of disease and discomfort are likely to be missed.
Safe use of an anesthetic or sedative in a dog or cat requires evaluation of the general health and size of the patient to determine the appropriate drug and dose, and continual monitoring of the patient. Veterinarians are trained in all of these procedures. Prescribing or administering anesthetic or sedative drugs by a non-veterinarian can be very dangerous, and is illegal. Although anesthesia will never be 100% risk-free, modern anesthetic and patient evaluation techniques used in veterinary hospitals minimize the risks, and millions of dental scaling procedures are safely performed each year in veterinary hospitals.
To minimize the need for professional dental scaling procedures and to maintain optimal oral health, the AVDC® recommends daily dental home care from an early age. This should include brushing or use of other effective techniques to retard accumulation of dental plaque, such as dental diets and chew materials. This, combined with periodic examination of the patient by a veterinarian and with dental scaling under anesthesia when indicated, will optimize life-long oral health for dogs and cats. The AVDC® supports the Guidelines of safe administration of general anesthesia to animals for dental procedures as outlined by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiology and Analgesia (ACVAA) found at https://acvaa.org/
For general information on performance of dental procedures on veterinary patients, please read the AVDC® Position Statement on Veterinary Dental Healthcare Providers, which is available on the AVDC® web site (www.AVDC®.org). For information on effective oral hygiene products for dogs and cats, visit the Veterinary Oral Health Council web site (www.VOHC.org).
For further information, send an e-mail message to the AVDC® Executive Director (ExecSec@AVDC®.org).
Adopted by the Board of Directors, April 2004
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Removal or Reduction of Teeth as a Treatment for Canine or Feline Aggression
When presented with an aggressive animal case where other corrective measures have failed (including but not limited to behavior modification including medical/pharmacologic intervention) the veterinarian at his/her discretion may recommend full mouth extraction, crown reduction (to the gingival margin) or euthanasia.
AVDC® understands that removal of crowns of teeth may be necessary in selected cases.
Full mouth extraction is an invasive procedure. Oral surgical techniques that minimize trauma must be used, and post-operative radiographs must be taken. Effective anesthetic techniques, monitoring, and pre and post-operative pain control measures must be used.
It must be understood that removal or reduction of teeth as a treatment for canine or feline aggression will not absolutely prevent injury (of physical and/or psychological nature) to people or to other animals.
Adopted by the Board of Directors, October, 2009, revised April 2019
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Crown Amputation in Sled Dogs
The American Veterinary Dental College® expresses concern regarding the ‘cutting’ of canine teeth in sled dogs. It is felt that there are methods available that are more modern, less painful and associated with less complications. We would encourage the practitioners to adopt the currently accepted dental techniques.
Adopted by the Board of Directors April 1996
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Feline Tooth Resorption
Feline tooth resorption typically originates in the cementum, may progress into root dentin, and then either progress through the root, into the crown, or both. Tooth resorption that can be identified on oral examination is an indication for radiographic evaluation and treatment. Intraoral radiography is necessary for proper treatment planning. Whole-mouth radiographs are recommended to evaluate other teeth in the mouth.
Complete extraction is the treatment of choice for teeth that have detectable crown resorption but no radiographic evidence of root resorption. Teeth with crown resorption but radiographic signs of advanced root resorption (and no concurrent periodontal disease, periapical periodontitis or stomatitis) may be treated by subgingival amputation. Either form of treatment should be followed by gingival closure.
If there is radiographic evidence of root resorption, but no clinical resorption can be detected on oral examination, the tooth can be “monitored” or preemptively extracted. Progression through the resorptive process results in pulp exposure and pain; intervening treatment should take place before this occurs. Restoration of teeth undergoing resorption is not recommended and has not been shown to arrest or stall the resorptive process.
Periodic dental examinations are recommended for all cats with previous diagnosis of tooth resorption. Radiography should be repeated annually or more frequently as dictated by the oral examination.
Adopted by the Board of Directors, April 2006, revised April 2007, revised April 2019
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Orthodontic Procedures
The goal of orthodontic procedures in companion animals is to provide pets with a healthy and functional occlusion. The AVDC® supports the AVMA policy regarding surgery or procedures performed on show animals.
Adopted by the Board of Directors, September 2006, revised April 2019
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Position on Large Animal Dentistry
The practice of dentistry is an integral branch of professional veterinary practice. This discipline encompasses all aspects of the evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of any and all diseases, disorders, and conditions that affect the teeth, oral cavity, mandible, maxillofacial area, and the adjacent and associated structures. Additionally, dentistry includes the evaluation of the presentation and contribution of systemic diseases within the oral cavity and the contribution of oral conditions to the overall health of the individual animal. Companion animals, equines, livestock, and exotic species all have oral and dental needs that are included in the practice of veterinary medicine.
Any surgical procedure of the head or oral cavity; the administration or prescription of sedatives, tranquilizers, analgesics or anesthetics; procedures which are invasive of the tissues of the oral cavity including, but not limited to, removal of sharp enamel points, treatment of malocclusions of premolars, molars, canine teeth and incisors, odontoplasty, the extraction of first premolars and deciduous premolars and incisors; extraction of damaged or diseased teeth; treatment of diseased teeth via restorations or endodontic procedures; periodontal and orthodontic treatments; dental radiography and endoscopy of the oral cavity are veterinary dental procedures and should be performed by a licensed veterinarian.
In states where the Veterinary Practice Act allows, the AVDC® supports the use of licensed veterinary technicians under the employment and immediate supervision of licensed veterinarians for specific and appropriate veterinary dental procedures as enumerated in that state’s practice act.
Adopted by the Board of Directors, April 2019
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History of the AVDC®
The AVDC® was established in 1988 by an organizing committee of 8 veterinarians who were recognized as experts in veterinary dentistry in clinical care, research, publications or in professional education. The eight veterinarians were: Gary Beard, Ben Colmery, Keith Grove, Colin Harvey, Sandy Manfra, Tom Mulligan, Don Ross, Chuck Williams.
The College and Organizing Committee members are grateful for the support provided by human dentist Dr. Peter Emily, Honorary Diplomate AVDC®, during formation of the College.
Provisional accreditation as a veterinary specialty college was granted in 1988 by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties following review of a detailed application indicating the need for a veterinary dental specialty. The first examination for new members was held in 1989. Full recognition as an approved specialty was granted in 1995, and the College has grown rapidly. A list of current AVDC® diplomates is available by clicking the Locate a Veterinary Dentist link at the top of the screen.
An equine dental specialty was added and recognized by ABVS in 2014; as a result, the original AVDC® non-species’ diploma program has been renamed the AVDC®.
The AVDC® is unusual among ABVS approved colleges in that the discipline largely developed as a result of interest and expertise developed by veterinarians in small animal practice, rather than as a result of being nurtured in veterinary schools. Human dentists have made significant contributions to the development of veterinary dentistry, and collaboration between the two professions is on-going.
The first AVDC®-approved full-time residency training program was established in 1989. For the first 20 years, most applicants to the College were veterinarians who developed the required knowledge and experience in an ‘alternate pathway’ part-time program from practice. In 2014, AVDC® changed its training program requirements to emphasize direct diplomate supervision by requiring that applicants complete a full-time or part-time residency training program.