Vet Tech Students Extend Dental Care to Pets in Need

Pets In Need of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. (PIN) and UCBA sophomore Veterinary Technology students recently worked in conjunction to provide dental exams and cleanings for pets.
Periodontal disease affects over 70 percent of cats and 80 percent of dogs, but can be prevented with routine dental care at home. According to UCBA Professor Jennifer Wells of the Vet Tech program, the animals were selected, based on need, from the PIN program.
The "dental days" took place on February 1, February 15, and March 8, at the UCBA Vet. Tech. building. Seventeen dogs and cats received physical exams and had pre-operative blood work completed before being cleared to undergo the anesthesia necessary for a dental procedure.
The dental days allowed the students to practice many aspects of veterinary dentistry, Wells explained. They did dental exams, cleaned teeth, and took dental radiographs all under instructor supervision. Many of these animals had never received dental care in their lives and needed multiple extractions, which were performed by the veterinarians.
"Without the support of PIN, most of these pets would be unable to receive basic veterinary care, much less dental treatment," Wells said. The students also participate in the healthcare of these animals during wellness visits at PIN on Tuesdays throughout the school year.
This year's dental days were sponsored, in part, by a grant from the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust, which covered the cost of healthcare, blood work, medications and client educational materials for the patients.
The Banfield Charitable Trust provided funding in 2012, which allowed the purchase of two new dental machines as well as multiple hand instruments. Also volunteering time to help with these dental labs was Dr. Beatriz Woodall, who owns the Banfield Charter Practice in Mason. Wells said Dr. Woodall was instrumental in helping UCBA obtain the Banfield grant and her knowledge of dentistry was "invaluable" during the labs.
"The faculty, staff and students of the UCBA Vet Tech program would like to sincerely thank Dr. Woodall, the Banfield Charitable Trust and, of course, the dental patients and their owners!" Professor Wells said.