Episode 166 - Inside Veterinary Dental Tech: Pain Control, Charting & Radiograph Efficiency

🔗 Ready to Boost Your Dental Skills? Join the Veterinary Dental Practitioner Program for expert-level training in veterinary dentistry. Apply today 👉 https://ivdi.org/inv Discover more educational resources and courses at  https://veterinarydentistry.net/ Get more out of this episode by watching the presentation as well on YouTube: https://ivdi.org/thevetdentalshowYT --------------------------------------------------------------------- Guest Expert: Annie Mills, LVT, VTS (Dentistry) Host: Dr. Brett Beckman, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, DAAPM Welcome to The Vet Dental Show! In this episode, Annie Mills, LVT, Dental Technician Specialist (VTS), answers real-world questions from veterinary professionals about dental charting, anesthesia logs, pain management, and radiograph efficiency, offering valuable insights from a technician's point of view. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ How to send clients home with easy-to-understand dental charts ✔️ What to include in complete discharge documents (charts, drug logs, x-rays & instructions) ✔️ When and why to use fentanyl patches post-op in canine patients ✔️ Why bupivacaine may last much longer than you think—no need for additives ✔️ Tips for taking full-mouth radiographs using only a #2 sensor ✔️ Understanding infraorbital vs. caudal maxillary blocks ✔️ Whether it's effective (or advisable) to bend your needle during blocks Key Takeaways: ✅ Clients appreciate thorough yet simple discharge documents ✅ Fentanyl patches help ensure consistent pain control, especially when oral meds are hard to give ✅ Bupivacaine can offer up to 72 hours of pain relief—ideal for post-op comfort ✅ Consistent practice and positioning technique improve radiograph speed and quality ✅ Choosing the right local block depends on location and patient anatomy ✅ Bending the needle is a helpful and accepted method in certain block placements Links & Resources for Veterinary Professionals: Apply to the Veterinary Dental Practitioner Program ➡️ https://ivdi.org/inv Explore Dr. Beckman's full course catalog ➡️ https://veterinarydentistry.net/ Got questions or feedback? Drop them in the comments! 👍 Like this episode, 🔔 subscribe, and tune in every Wednesday for new veterinary dentistry insights from the field.