Pet dentistry seems like such a specific niche. How did you get into that side of veterinary care?
Technicians are allowed to specialize now and there are a number of specialty academies, emergency and critical care, anesthesia and pain management, surgical, clinical technician, cardiology, opthamology, just to name a few. In my career, it came down to emergency and critical care or dentistry. My kids were getting older and I did not want to work the overnights all the time, and I had a veterinarian that had a special interest in dentistry encourage me to go that way.
For pets that absolutely refuse a toothbrush, which alternative products—like dental chews, water additives, or specialized diets—actually deliver proven benefits versus just marketing hype?
We recommend anything on this list vohc.org the veterinary oral health council evaluates dental care products and gives it the thumbs up and the special seal if the studies provided show that it is effective for plaque prevention. We use this as a qualifying resource so owners can choose effective and safe products.
Aside from bad breath, what are the top three red flags that mean a pet needs an immediate professional dental evaluation rather than just better home care?
That is a myth in veterinary dentistry. Most pets do not show any signs at all until the disease is really advanced and significant changes like advanced bone loss and loss of attachment structures have already occurred. We encourage and promote proactive dentistry and dont wait until we have signs because then its too late to treat and save teeth. We approach dentistry with the philosophy of finding pathology early using dental x-ray, and the earlier we find it, the better success we have in treating and preventing tooth loss.
There’s a long-standing myth that feeding hard dry kibble keeps a pet’s teeth clean. What does the evidence actually show about kibble and dental health?
There is no evidence that dry dog food is any more effective unless it is a specific dental diet designed to prevent plaque and or tartar.
What is the single biggest misconception you encounter from pet owners about their pet’s oral health?
That clean teeth mean that there is no disease. We often find changes on xray of periodontal disease even with perfectly clean teeth. And just cleaning teeth without diagnosing is beneficial. It actually has no benefit if disease is present under the gumline and is not found and treated, it will progress until we have to extract or the tooth just falls out on its own due to tissue and bone destruction secondary to periodontal disease.
If you could give pet parents just one golden rule for oral health that would drastically improve their pet’s quality of life, what would it be
If you have a little dog dental x-rays and evaluation under anesthesia starting at the age of about 15-18 months. If your vet does not have dental x-ray, there may be a specialist in your area or find another vet that has dental x-ray and training to diagnose and treat. A large breed dog should have their first assessment at 2 years of age and cats around 18-24 months of age.
Wolves and wild cats don’t brush their teeth, so why should my pet?” How do you break down the flaw in that logic for owners?
Those wild animals have significant disease, they just go untreated, however, there are many boarded veterinary dentists that work on those larges cats, bears, wolves, hyenas and many other types of zoo or exotic type of pets. Even seals can have periodontal disease and the care takers at the aquariums do brush their teeth and other plaque prevention as well.
If you had to step into the paws of a pet undergoing a full dental procedure, what step in the process do you think would be the most surprisingly comfortable or relieving for them?
When we place regional nerve blocks, or numb the area before we start surgery. And when we remove all the infected teeth, bone and tissue surrounding the infected teeth, they feel so much better and wake up pain free, and in the days post op. And getting all of that infection cleared out, they feel better all the way around. With continued regular assessment and care under anesthesia and dental x-ray, the pet can continue to be pain free and healthy.
What is the most bizarre object, fractured tooth, or unexpected item you’ve ever extracted from a pet’s mouth?
I would say the patient that came in with multiple fractured teeth after biting the weed wacker while the owner was using it! But we were able to treat and save all the teeth that were affected.
Annie Mills is a distinguished Licensed Veterinary Technician and a certified Veterinary Technician Specialist in Dentistry. A 1983 graduate of Macomb Community College, Annie served as the past President of the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians.
Over her distinguished career, Annie has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles for professional journals and co-authored the textbook Small Animal Dental Procedures for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. A recognized leader in continuing education, she frequently presents lectures and leads hands-on wet labs at national veterinary conferences. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams across the country to design, organize, and teach comprehensive dental training programs.
Currently, Annie works alongside board-certified veterinary dental specialist Dr. Brett Beckman in a mobile dental referral practice and contributes to online training platforms, including the Veterinary Technician Dentistry Online Course with the Orlando Veterinary Dentistry team.
Veterinary Technician Dentistry Online Course: Annie Mills |
Veterinary Support Team – Orlando Veterinary Dentistry
