Veterinary Professionals Expand Oral Care Skills at Level Up: Dentistry
Free Virtual Event, February 24, Offers Learnings that can be Immediately Applied in Veterinary Clinics.
Note: This article contains information that is considered out of date.
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 17, 2022 – Oral disease is one of the most common diseases in pets but among the least understood because clinical signs are generally subtle or absent. Patients with dental disease are often in pain and lack clinical signs.
As part of February’s Pet Dental Health Month, the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) will offer LevelUp: Dentistry, on Thursday, February 24, and it is open to veterinary professionals worldwide. This free virtual event is the second offering in the new Level Up educational series available through VetFolio.com.
“Untreated oral disease can lead to many health problems in animals,” said NAVC Chief Veterinary Officer Dana Varble, DVM, CAE. “With consistent and thorough assessment and treatment by the veterinary healthcare team, many of the dental issues our pets may develop can be resolved within general practice and without having to send the animal to a specialist. This is a benefit to all – the veterinary clinic, client and, most important of all, the patient.”
Attendees will learn dental techniques that can be applied immediately in their respective veterinary clinics, enabling primary care veterinary team members to improve their client relationships and patient care.
The Level Up: Dentistry includes three interactive sessions:
The Gold Standard – Steps to a COHAT – Mary L. Berg, BS, RVT, RLATG, VTS (Dentistry) will walk attendees through the proper Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) steps and explain why it is more than just teeth cleaning. Berg is president of Beyond the Crown Veterinary Education.
Managing Difficult Extractions and Extraction Complications in the Dog – There are many possible reasons why a dog might need a tooth extracted, whether due to a fracture or periodontal disease. Sandra Manfra Marretta, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, AVDC will lead a discussion on how to make difficult extractions in dogs more efficient, less traumatic and with fewer complications. She is a Professor Emerita in Small Animal Surgery and Dentistry at the University of Illinois.
Difficulties in Opening and Closing the Mouth: Differentials and Treatments – When presented with a patient that is having difficulty opening their mouth, the clinician is faced with challenges that are often life-threatening. Boaz Arzi, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FF-AVDC-OMFS will inform practitioners of the possible differential diagnosis, imaging, and therapeutic options. Dr. Arzi is an associate professor of dentistry and oral surgery at the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

To learn more about Level Up: Dentistry or to register, click here. Participants will receive three continuing education credits.
“Participation in the Level Up: Dentistry is open to veterinarians and veterinary nurses and technicians who are partners in the care of our animals,” said NAVC CEO Gene O’Neill. “This free summit is another example of the NAVC’s commitment to providing unparalleled opportunities that foster lifelong learning for the veterinary community while promoting the advancement of animal care everywhere.”
The Level Up virtual series is part of NAVC’s VirtualXP division, launched last October with a global summit for veterinary nurses and technicians. Through VirtualXP, the NAVC provides a comprehensive portfolio of virtual learning and events customized to individual learning preferences. VirtualXP complements the NAVC’s industry-leading in-person events and includes interactive virtual summits, live webinars and the microlearning videos series VetFolio Bytes. All VirtualXP education is offered exclusively through the NAVC’s online learning platform, VetFolio.com.
About the NAVC
The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide. The world’s leading provider of veterinary continuing education, the NAVC delivers essential training, tools and resources for veterinary professionals to stay abreast of advances in animal medicine and provide the best medical care for animals everywhere. Through its commitment to innovation and excellence, the NAVC has developed a diverse portfolio of products and services, including: educational events, headlined by VMX, the world’s largest, most comprehensive continuing education conference and launchpad for new products and innovations within the veterinary industry; a robust digital platform for virtual learning and engagement; the veterinary industry’s largest and award-winning portfolio of trade publications; and an advocacy arm which unites the veterinary community and pet lovers. The NAVC was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. Since 2017, the NAVC has been recognized annually as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orlando Sentinel. To learn more about the NAVC’s products and brands, visit https://navc.com/. To see our schedule of upcoming events, visit https://navc.com/calendar/.
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