In this episode of the WSAVA Podcast, interviewer Cedric Tutt explores dental care at both ends of a patient’s life, from early intervention in puppies to the challenges and opportunities of dentistry in senior pets.

First, John Lewis discusses paediatric dental problems that benefit from early action, including fractured deciduous teeth and persistent deciduous teeth. He explains why fractured deciduous teeth can matter even when puppies appear comfortable, and why infection risk and impact on developing adult teeth should not be underestimated.

Later in the episode, Heidi Lobprise turns to dentistry in older cats and dogs. She discusses why age alone should not rule out dental treatment, and how careful assessment, monitoring, and planning can reduce anaesthetic risk while improving quality of life. She also explores common senior presentations, including severe periodontal disease, chronic oral inflammation, and conditions such as “rubber jaw,” as well as the importance of home care across the lifespan.

Together, these conversations highlight how dental decision-making changes with age, and why proactive care can make a meaningful difference in both young and senior patients.

Resources & Links

• WSAVA Global Dental Committee
• WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines
• WSAVA Educational Resources
• A removable orthodontic device for the treatment of lingually displaced mandibular canine teeth in young dogs (Verhaert, 1999)

Contributors

• John Lewis, VMD, DAVDC, FF-OMFS – LinkedIn
• Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC – LinkedIn
• Cedric LC Tutt, Diplomate EVDC – LinkedIn | ResearchGate

Click here for the full transcript

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

In this episode of the WSAVA Podcast, interviewer Gottfried Morgenegg-Wegmüller speaks with two experts about what safe, effective dentistry really requires, and why pain management cannot be an afterthought.

First, Dr Brook A. Niemiec unpacks why “anaesthesia-free dentistry” is not dentistry at all. He explains what gets missed when you cannot probe, scale subgingivally, or take diagnostic dental radiographs, and why cosmetic cleaning can create a false sense of security while disease, pain, and infection continue beneath the gumline.

In the second conversation, Dr Eva Eberspächer-Schweda focuses on practical approaches to safe anaesthesia and analgesia in dental patients. She explores how preparation, monitoring, and thoughtful pain control support better outcomes, and how teams can speak with confidence about risk, welfare, and the benefits of appropriate dental care.

Together, these conversations reinforce a simple principle: good dentistry depends on good anaesthesia. With the right protocols and communication, veterinary teams can protect patient welfare while delivering the care that dental disease demands.

Resources & Links

• WSAVA Global Dental Committee
• WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines
• WSAVA Educational Resources
• Evaluating the validity and reliability of a visual dental scale for detection of periodontal disease in non-anesthetized dogs
• Anesthesia-free dentistry does not provide any demonstrable medical benefit for the control of periodontal disease in dogs

Contributors

• Dr Brook A. Niemiec DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC – Website | Instagram | VDS Pets
• PD Dr. Eva Eberspächer-Schweda, FTA, Dipl. ACVAA – LinkedIn | Website | Instagram
• Gottfried Morgenegg-Wegmüller – Website

Click here for the full transcript

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.

In the opening episode of the second series of the WSAVA Podcast, interviewer David Clarke speaks with two expert clinicians about the links between oral health, systemic disease, and animal welfare in companion animals.

Dr Maria Soltero-Rivera discusses how oral disease in dogs and cats is rarely limited to the mouth alone. She explores how oral lesions may be associated with a wide range of systemic conditions, and why careful oral examination and pattern recognition are essential parts of medical assessment. Dr Soltero-Rivera also reflects on the need to view dentistry as part of core medicine rather than an isolated procedure.

Later in the episode, Dr Jen Mathis, focuses on oral pain and its impact on welfare. She examines why dental pain is often missed in clinical practice, how it can influence behaviour and quality of life, and the implications of delayed treatment. Dr Mathis also highlights the role of effective anaesthesia and analgesia in supporting patient welfare during dental care.

Together, these conversations introduce key themes for the series and set the stage for a deeper exploration of veterinary dentistry across the full spectrum of care.

Resources & Links

• WSAVA Global Dental Committee
• WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines
• WSAVA Educational Resources
• Association of periodontal disease and histologic lesions in multiple organs from 45 dogs
• Periodontal disease burden and pathological changes in organs of dogs
• Association of periodontal disease with systemic health indices in dogs and the systemic response to treatment of periodontal disease
• FECAVA factsheet : Oral health and systemic disease in companion animals
  
  

Contributors

• Dr Maria Soltero-Rivera, DVM, Dipl. AVDC, Dipl. EVDC – LinkedIn
• Dr Jen Mathis, DVM – LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | ResearchGate | ORCID
• David Clarke BVSc, DAVDC, DAVDC-ZWD, FAVD, MANZCVS, Cert IV TA – LinkedIn

Click here for the full transcript

This podcast was edited and produced by Contento Media Ltd.