ON-DEMAND VET COURSE
Essentials of Dentistry
Learn to use the full power of dental X-rays and local anesthesia while building a solid decision-making process for evaluating tooth health.
- Veterinarian
- Non-Interactive RACE Approval Pending
- 3 Months Access
- 4 Structured CPD Points
This course includes
- 3-month access
- Course ebook
- Extra resources
- Lecture Recordings
- Quiz assessment
- CPD certificate
What you'll learn
Dental disease is one of the most common presenting complaints in small animal practice, yet it can be technically challenging to manage at times – even for experienced clinicians.
Essentials of Dentistry is an on-demand online course containing five in-depth lectures featuring instruction from leading small animal dentists working in busy referral hospitals, who go beyond the textbook to bring you practical, evidence-based strategies you can implement immediately.
You will learn to harness the full power of dental radiography, and local anaesthesia – and will develop a robust decision-making framework for assessing tooth health. Crucially, this course will equip you with the knowledge to anticipate, avoid, and manage complications, giving you the skills you need to handle those challenging dental cases!
Essentials of Dentistry is an on-demand online course containing five in-depth lectures featuring instruction from leading small animal dentists working in busy referral hospitals, who go beyond the textbook to bring you practical, evidence-based strategies you can implement immediately.
You will learn to harness the full power of dental radiography, and local anaesthesia – and will develop a robust decision-making framework for assessing tooth health. Crucially, this course will equip you with the knowledge to anticipate, avoid, and manage complications, giving you the skills you need to handle those challenging dental cases!
Key Benefits
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Systematically interpret intraoral radiographs by contrasting normal anatomy with the subtle signs of periodontal disease, endodontic pathology, and tooth resorption to create effective treatment plans.
- Confidently perform regional nerve blocks of the maxilla and mandible using a sound knowledge of skull anatomy and local anaesthetic pharmacology to provide profound pre-emptive and post-operative analgesia.
- Apply a robust decision-making framework to differentiate between teeth that can be saved with advanced therapies and those that are a source of chronic pain and require extraction.
- Execute a predictable and atraumatic surgical extraction by mastering the principles of flap creation, tooth sectioning, and controlled elevation to avoid root fracture and patient trauma.
- Anticipate, prevent, and manage common and serious dental complications - including oronasal fistula, jaw fracture, and root displacement—using proven strategies and step-by-step techniques.
Course Outline
Lecture 1: Dental Radiology
Presented by Dr Anthony Caiafa BVSc BDSc MANZCVS
Unlock the diagnostic power of intraoral radiography. This lecture moves beyond simple technique to focus on image interpretation and its impact on treatment planning. We will dissect normal radiographic anatomy and contrast it with the subtle signs of pathology, including tooth resorption, periapical lucencies, and hidden periodontitis. You will learn a systematic approach to reading a full mouth series and understand why a radiograph is not just a record, but a vital diagnostic tool that informs your dental therapeutic practice.
Unlock the diagnostic power of intraoral radiography. This lecture moves beyond simple technique to focus on image interpretation and its impact on treatment planning. We will dissect normal radiographic anatomy and contrast it with the subtle signs of pathology, including tooth resorption, periapical lucencies, and hidden periodontitis. You will learn a systematic approach to reading a full mouth series and understand why a radiograph is not just a record, but a vital diagnostic tool that informs your dental therapeutic practice.
Lecture 2: Local Anaesthesia for Dentistry
Presented by Dr. Anthony Caiafa BVSc BDSc MANZCVS
Effective pain management a crucial component in small animal dentistry. This lecture provides a practical, step-by-step guide to performing regional nerve blocks of the maxilla and mandible. Dr. Caiafa reviews relevant skull anatomy, the pharmacology of commonly used local anaesthetics, and techniques to ensure a successful block every time. Learn how to achieve profound intra- and post-operative analgesia, reduce general anaesthetic requirements, and provide a smoother, more comfortable recovery for your patients.
Effective pain management a crucial component in small animal dentistry. This lecture provides a practical, step-by-step guide to performing regional nerve blocks of the maxilla and mandible. Dr. Caiafa reviews relevant skull anatomy, the pharmacology of commonly used local anaesthetics, and techniques to ensure a successful block every time. Learn how to achieve profound intra- and post-operative analgesia, reduce general anaesthetic requirements, and provide a smoother, more comfortable recovery for your patients.
Lecture 3: Decision-Making in Small Animal Dentistry
Presented by Dr. Christine Hawke BSc BVSc PhD MANZCVS
Knowing when to save a tooth is as important as knowing when to extract one. This lecture tackles the critical decision-making process regarding tooth health. Using real case examples, Dr. Hawke will guide you through the assessment of periodontal disease, endodontic lesions, and developmental abnormalities. You will learn to differentiate between a tooth that can be preserved with treatments like periodontal therapy or vital pulp capping, and one that is a source of chronic pain and must be extracted. This session will empower you to make biologically sound decisions in the best interest of your patient.
Knowing when to save a tooth is as important as knowing when to extract one. This lecture tackles the critical decision-making process regarding tooth health. Using real case examples, Dr. Hawke will guide you through the assessment of periodontal disease, endodontic lesions, and developmental abnormalities. You will learn to differentiate between a tooth that can be preserved with treatments like periodontal therapy or vital pulp capping, and one that is a source of chronic pain and must be extracted. This session will empower you to make biologically sound decisions in the best interest of your patient.
Lecture 4: Dental Extraction Nightmares
Presented by Dr. Christine Hawke BSc BVSc PhD MANZCVS
Tooth extraction is a common procedure, but a simple one? Not always. This lecture provides you with key tools surgical extraction technique. Dr. Hawke will demonstrate the principles of tooth extraction that minimise trauma, and avoid “the crack of doon!”. We will focus on the “why” behind each step, ensuring you understand the biomechanics of elevation and luxation. This session is designed to transform a potentially stressful procedure into a predictable and controlled surgical event.
Tooth extraction is a common procedure, but a simple one? Not always. This lecture provides you with key tools surgical extraction technique. Dr. Hawke will demonstrate the principles of tooth extraction that minimise trauma, and avoid “the crack of doon!”. We will focus on the “why” behind each step, ensuring you understand the biomechanics of elevation and luxation. This session is designed to transform a potentially stressful procedure into a predictable and controlled surgical event.
Lecture 5: Avoiding Dentistry Complications
Presented by Dr. Anthony Caiafa BVSc BDSc MANZCVS
Even the most skilled surgeon can encounter complications. The key to success lies in anticipation and a prepared mind. This final lecture addresses the most common and feared complications in veterinary dentistry, with a primary focus on tooth extraction. From oronasal fistulas and root fractures to jaw fractures and haemorrhage, Dr. Caiafa will provide you with a practical toolkit for prevention and management. Learn the strategies to avoid these pitfalls and the step-by-step techniques to resolve them calmly and effectively should they arise.
Even the most skilled surgeon can encounter complications. The key to success lies in anticipation and a prepared mind. This final lecture addresses the most common and feared complications in veterinary dentistry, with a primary focus on tooth extraction. From oronasal fistulas and root fractures to jaw fractures and haemorrhage, Dr. Caiafa will provide you with a practical toolkit for prevention and management. Learn the strategies to avoid these pitfalls and the step-by-step techniques to resolve them calmly and effectively should they arise.
Your Tutors
BVSc BDSc MANZCVS
BSc BVSc PhD MANZCVS
AUD 67.90
This course is FREE for our Annual Vet Education Members
Your Colleagues Love These Courses!
I love Vet Education courses. Dr. Phil is such a great teacher, who presents such clear, practical information.
Jess
(USA)
Loving these shorter courses – so much useful information in a nice concise form. Thanks Vet Ed!
Toni
(New Zealand)
Fantastic. I’ll be doing more of these short courses!
Liam
(Australia)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this course suitable for veterinarians with no specialist orthopaedic training?
Absolutely. This course is specifically designed for general practitioners. It focuses on providing a clear, practical, and systematic framework to improve diagnostic skills in a busy practice setting, without requiring prior specialist knowledge.
What specific conditions will the radiographic lecture cover?
The lecture will focus on the top 10 common orthopaedic patterns seen in dogs, such as cranial cruciate ligament disease, elbow dysplasia (e.g., fragmented coronoid process), osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), and arthritic changes. The emphasis is on recognizing diagnostically significant radiographic lesions associated with these conditions.
How is a "5-Minute Orthopaedic Exam" possible? Does it cut corners?
The “5-Minute” framework is about efficiency and consistency, not brevity at the expense of thoroughness. It provides a standardized, sequential protocol that eliminates guesswork and ensures all critical steps are performed without wasted time. It’s designed to maximize essential data collection within a typical consultation window.
