NAVC Invites Veterinary Pros to Free Virtual Dentistry Summit

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Press release: NAVC

Oral disease is one of the most common diseases in pets but among the least understood because clinical signs are generally subtle or absent. Patients with dental disease are often in pain and lack clinical signs.

As part of February Pet Dental Health Month, the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is inviting veterinary health professionals to attend a free program where they can increase their skills in dentistry and use the new learnings to help patients in their practice.

The Level Up: Dentistry virtual summit, which will be held February 24, is open to veterinarians and veterinary nurses/technicians worldwide.

“Untreated oral disease can lead to many health problems in animals,” said NAVC chief veterinary officer Dana Varble, DVM, CAE. “With consistent and thorough assessment and treatment by the veterinary healthcare team, many of the dental issues our pets may develop can be resolved within general practice and without having to send the animal to a specialist.”

According to Dr. Varble, health issues that may arise when oral disease is not addressed include pain and discomfort, weight loss, inflammation, tooth and jaw fractures and infection.

One session at the Level Up: Dentistry summit will address the Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment or COHAT and will be presented by Mary L. Berg, BS, RVT, RLATG, VTS (dentistry). More than just a regular teeth cleaning, the Gold Standard COHAT consists of a customized assessment of the whole mouth with an oral exam and dental X-ray as it relates to the patient’s overall health and habits and a treatment plan created for any problems found that could lead to serious issues in the future.

Level Up: Dentistry attendees will also learn about techniques for managing difficult extractions in dogs as well as the diagnosis and treatment of animals that have difficulty opening the mouth.

“The veterinary professionals who participate in the interactive virtual summit will be able to take their learnings back to their practice immediately,” said Dr. Varble. “That is good news for pet owners because their furry family members can be treated on site by their primary veterinary healthcare team.”

Attendees will receive three continuing education credits for participating in this program. The educational event is part of the NAVC’s interactive, year-round virtual learning events which include summits, seminars and a live webinar series.

The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide. The world’s leading provider of veterinary continuing education, the NAVC delivers essential training, tools and resources for veterinary professionals to stay abreast of advances in animal medicine and provide the best medical care for animals everywhere. Through its commitment to innovation and excellence, the NAVC has developed a diverse portfolio of products and services, including: educational events, headlined by VMX, the world’s largest, most comprehensive continuing education conference and launchpad for new products and innovations within the veterinary industry; a robust digital platform for virtual learning and engagement; the veterinary industry’s largest and award-winning portfolio of trade publications; and an advocacy arm which unites the veterinary community and pet lovers. The NAVC was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. Since 2017, the NAVC has been recognized annually as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orlando Sentinel.