Designing dental homecare programs that work

Authors: Salter R
Publication: Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Annual Conferences, Volume 2014 AVA Annual Conference, Perth, Issue Dental / Practice Management, May 2014
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

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Abstract: To design a Best Practice dental homecare program that actually works requires that each practice write a specific oral health home care program and that the messages of the program are delivered consistently to clients in a proper and positive manner by all practice members. The home care program requires regular checks and reviews, the use of dental friendly diets and treats and the implementation of daily tooth brushing. The program needs to be individualized for each patient and the owner. Whilst tooth brushing is commonly acknowledged as the gold standard of homecare most articles in the literature suggest that long term compliance is poor. As practitioners we need to regard tooth brushing as a vital component of the oral health program and the advantages of brushing need to be presented properly using terms that reflect its gold standard of ongoing care using terms that reinforce it as the technique which is “the best thing you can do for your pet”.

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