Dr. Han Chia is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dentistry and Oral Surgery at Rowan University’s Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine. She earned dual degrees with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2013. She spent a year conducting reproductive research on the Panamanian Golden Frog at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo before earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Chia completed a rotating internship at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Charlotte, North Carolina, followed by a residency in dentistry and oral surgery at the Center for Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery. She is passionate about all areas of veterinary dentistry, with special interests in periodontal disease, oral masses, stomatitis, and veterinary dental education.
Pets are evolutionary masters at hiding pain. What are the tiny, easy-to-miss signs—that a pet owner might see at home that indicate a tooth is secretly abscessed or painful?
Pets really are experts at hiding pain, so it’s common for owners not to realize their dog or cat has a tooth problem until it’s quite advanced. But there are small, easy‑to‑miss signs you can watch at home that may mean a tooth is abscessed or painful.
Look for:
- Dropping food or chewing on one side of the mouth
- Suddenly eating more slowly, avoiding crunchy food, or refusing treats and chewing toys
- Pawing at the face or rubbing the mouth along the floor or furniture
- Bad breath, extra drooling, or being “head shy” when you touch their muzzle
If you notice these changes, it’s a good idea to schedule a dental check with your veterinarian. Often these quiet behavior changes are the first sign that something is going on in the mouth.
At what point does bad breath stop being ‘normal’ and start indicating a problem?
Any noticeable bad breath is not truly “normal.” Bad breath usually comes from volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), which are produced by oral bacteria building up in the mouth—even “morning breath” is a mild version of this. Daily home care, like brushing or using approved dental chews and rinses, helps reduce the bacteria and the amount of smelly VSCs they produce.
If you can smell your pet’s breath, especially if it’s getting stronger or persistent, that’s a sign there may be gum disease. It’s then a good idea to schedule a professional dental cleaning or an oral exam with your veterinarian.
How much of pet dental health is purely genetic, and can good home care actually bad genetics?
The prevalence of dental disease is multifactorial, meaning it’s influenced by genetics, behavior, development, diet, and many other factors. Currently, we don’t know exactly what percentage of a pet’s poor dental health is due to genetics alone.
However, a study by Dr. Harvey showed that, proportionally, small dogs have relatively larger teeth compared with their mandibular height when compared with larger dogs. This can lead to crowding, making it harder to keep teeth clean and increasing the risk of periodontal disease.
In addition, certain illnesses affecting the mother during pregnancy or the puppy at a young age can disrupt enamel development, creating rougher or defective surfaces that are more prone to plaque buildup and bacterial colonization, which again increases the risk of dental disease.
Lastly, I believe any level of home care can help improve overall dental health. A combination of daily home care and regular professional dental cleaning can go a long way in helping our beloved pets suffer less from dental disease.
Gioso MA, Shofer F, Barros PSM, Harvey CE. Mandible and Mandibular First Molar Tooth Measurements in Dogs: Relationship of Radiographic Height to Body Weight. Journal of veterinary dentistry. 2001;18(2):65-68.
There’s a long-standing belief that dry kibble is better for teeth than wet food because of the crunch. Is there any actual scientific evidence to support this, or is the mechanical action of standard kibble largely a myth?
The popular belief that “standard dry kibble is better for teeth because of the crunch” is only partly true and tends to be overstated. A recent study found no significant difference in overall periodontal scores between dogs fed wet versus dry food. However, dogs eating dry food did show some benefit in plaque (bacterial) buildup, with slightly lower plaque levels and lower breath sulfur concentrations compared with those on wet diets.
In practice, the mechanical “crunch” effect of regular dry kibble is relatively modest. Food texture alone has only a small influence on plaque and calculus. Specially formulated dental diets such as Hill’s Prescription Diet T/d, Royal Canin – Dental health and many other do offer measurable dental benefits and are recognized by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). A complete list of diets and treats is available on the VOHC website (www.vohc.org).
Oba PM, Sieja KM, Keating SCJ, Hristova T, Somrak AJ, Swanson KS. Oral microbiota populations of adult dogs consuming wet or dry foods. J Anim Sci. 2022 Aug 1;100(8)
Is it correct that bad teeth can actually lead to heart disease or damage to the kidneys and liver?
What a great question and a fascinating mystery for us as veterinarians. In human medicine, there’s strong evidence that severe periodontal disease is associated with conditions like heart disease, as well as kidney and liver issues. The thought is that chronic inflammation and bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and affect other organs. That said, these studies show an association, not direct cause-and-effect; we can’t say dental disease alone causes these problems, but it can contribute.
In veterinary medicine, the data is more limited, mainly because we don’t have the same kind of long-term, large-scale studies. But biology is very similar. Advanced dental disease creates a constant source of bacteria and inflammation, and those bacteria can enter the bloodstream and potentially impact organs like the heart, kidneys, and liver—especially if a pet already has underlying disease.
So while we don’t tell owners that “bad teeth will cause organ failure,” we do consider dental disease an important risk factor. Managing it isn’t just about the mouth and it’s about reducing pain, lowering inflammation, and protecting overall health.
What do you recommend for pet parents who are more afraid of the anesthesia than dental disease itself?
For pet parents who feel more worried about anesthesia than dental disease, I usually start with an open, honest conversation about both risks. Modern veterinary anesthesia is very safe when performed by a trained team, with pre-anesthetic blood work, individualized protocols, and continuous monitoring. For most pets, the risk of anesthesia is actually much lower than the risk of leaving dental disease untreated.
At the same time, I understand that it can feel intimidating. For some owners, it helps to start with small steps at home like getting their pet comfortable with oral handling, introducing toothbrushing, or using VOHC-approved dental products. These don’t replace professional care, but they can help slow progression and build confidence.
When a dental procedure is needed, I encourage owners to ask questions about the anesthetic plan, monitoring, and who will be overseeing their pet. Knowing what’s happening behind the scenes often helps reduce that fear.
Ultimately, I try to reframe anesthesia not as the biggest risk, but as the safest way we have to treat pain, control infection, and protect a pet’s overall health.
With human medicine, there is a lot of new technology like 3D printed implants. Are any high tech treatments available in the vet world too?
It might surprise people how much high-tech innovation already exists in veterinary medicine. Similar to human healthcare, we’re using technologies like 3D printing to help us to create custom implants for dogs and cats. These can include titanium or medical-grade plastic implants to repair complex fractures and reconstruct parts of the jaw or face,
What makes this especially powerful is that these implants are designed from CT scans of the individual patient, so they’re highly precise and tailored to that animal. Surgeons could also use 3D-printed bone models and cutting guides to plan and practice procedures in advance, which improves accuracy and outcomes.
This technology is particularly valuable in complex trauma or cancer cases, where we need to rebuild structures that have been lost. Beyond that, 3D printing is also being used to create dental prostheses and even custom prosthetics like beaks or limbs for all animals.
While you won’t find this in everyday practice, things are moving fast with a lot of influence from human medicine.
I noticed that you have a duel background in animal science and dance. Does the precision and discipline of dance influence your surgical hand or her approach to clinical teaching?
Yes, there’s definitely a connection between my background in dance and my work in veterinary medicine. The precision and discipline I developed through dance have translated directly into surgery, especially in terms of body awareness, hand control, and maintaining focus during long, detail-oriented procedures. In both fields, movement quality, timing, and efficiency matter whether it’s executing a clean, controlled line in dance or making smooth, deliberate motions with surgical instruments.
My experience in dance also shaped how I approach teaching. During college, I took education courses where I learned how to design and structure classes for students ranging from pre-K through college. That training helped me learn how to break down complex skills into clear, manageable steps and adapt my teaching to different learning styles and developmental levels.
I use that same approach in clinical teaching that guiding students and technicians through procedures in a way that feels structured, supportive, and tailored to where they are in their learning.
If every pet owner committed to just one small habit every day that isn’t brushing, what would have the biggest impact on their pet’s quality of life?
If every pet owner could commit to just one small daily habit besides brushing; it would be simply getting comfortable looking in their pet’s mouth.
That can be as easy as gently lifting the lip for a few seconds each day. It might not seem like much, but this habit does two important things. First, it helps pets become more comfortable with having their mouth handled, which makes veterinary exams less stressful and more thorough. Second, it allows both owners and veterinarians to spot problems earlier like redness, broken teeth, swelling, or abnormal masses.
Many dental conditions go unnoticed until they’re advanced, often because pets aren’t used to oral handling and exams are limited. By building that comfort at home, owners play a direct role in early detection and prevention.
It’s a small daily action, but it can make a meaningful difference in a pet’s comfort, overall health, and quality of life.
