Animal Dentistry has been practiced since 600 B.C. as evidenced in horse archeology in China. Simon of Athens described aging horses and eruption times in "The Veterinary Art, Inspection of Horses." Aristotle in his book, History of Animals, described periodontal disease in animals. The Greek scholars wrote papers on dental anatomy and diseases of animals. Beginning in equine patients and gaining attention in companion animals like dogs and cats, veterinary dentistry has been an important part of the well-being of all creatures. Astute owners will notice when pet’s behavior changes with a tooth ache or a fractured tooth. Gum disease, or periodontal disease, can cause pain, redness, swelling, halitosis, and eventual loss of teeth (2,3).
The following information leading to modern veterinary dentistry was provided by the Pierre Fauchard Academy:
“The 1762 founding of the first veterinary dental school in Lvon, France proved to be the first step in the most recent movement and explosion of veterinary dental knowledge (2). The first veterinary dental text was published in 1889, and soon to follow were books published in 1905 and 1938 (2). These books began to include techniques not only in equine dentistry, but in small animal dentistry as well. In Vienna, Joseph Bodingbauer proved to be a pioneer in small animal dentistry during the 1930's. In 1929 a series of detailed papers was provided by Arthur Mellenby which included information about the effects of dietary changes on developing dentition and dental diseases of canines.
In the United States, movement in the field of small animal dentistry came much later. The first organized veterinary dental organization was the American Veterinary Dental Society in 1976.
As more and more practitioners grew acquainted with this new field of veterinary medicine, an Academy of Veterinary Dentistry was formed in 1987.” In 1988, The American Veterinary Dental College was granted provisional accreditation as a veterinary specialty college by the American Board of Veterinary Dentistry.
Full recognition of AVDC, as an approved specialty was granted in 1995.
Currently, veterinary dentistry is recognized as a specialty by the American Veterinary Medical Association. The American Veterinary Dental College is the governing organization for this specialty, and determines the guidelines and conditions for certification in the field.